The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, according to BBC News and multiple news reports. The decision preserves the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of automatic citizenship for children born in the United States, a policy that has been in place for more than a century.
The court rejected the administration’s argument that the 14th Amendment’s phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” allowed the president to restrict citizenship for children born in the United States to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily. The justices instead upheld the traditional interpretation of the Citizenship Clause, which has been understood to grant citizenship to nearly everyone born on U.S. soil.
Trump made the birthright citizenship executive order one of his first actions upon retaking the White House, signing it shortly after returning to office, as MSI previously reported. The order sought to restrict citizenship for U.S.-born children of unauthorized or temporary parents.
The Supreme Court also issued rulings on other major cases Tuesday, including decisions allowing states to ban transgender athletes from female sports and ending limits on party spending in federal elections, according to The Guardian.
The ruling marked the second time this year the court has rejected a major Trump policy. In February, the justices struck down sweeping tariffs Trump imposed on imports from around the globe, according to Politico.