Key Facts

• The Supreme Court’s decision says all children born in the U.S. are citizens by birth under the 14th Amendment.
• President Trump aimed to stop children of parents in the country illegally from automatically getting citizenship.
• Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion supporting birthright citizenship.
• Justice Clarence Thomas disagreed in a dissenting opinion, partly supporting the President’s order.
• If the order had passed, millions of children could lose citizenship and some risk becoming stateless.
• Before the ruling, President Trump criticized two justices he appointed who were expected to oppose his position.
• The order challenged the idea that people born in the U.S. illegally are “subject to the jurisdiction” of the country.
• Surveys show about two-thirds of Americans support keeping birthright citizenship as guaranteed by the Constitution.