Supreme Court Affirms Birthright Citizenship in Historic Ruling
June 30, 2026
Washington, DC – Today, the Supreme Court protected a constitutional right that has stood for more than 150 years. Birthright citizenship is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and was confirmed in United States v. Wong Kim Ark in 1898. Today’s ruling in Trump v. Barbara reaffirms if you are born in the United States, you are a citizen.
Carmen Daugherty, interim executive director at Advancement Project, issued this statement:
“This decision is a victory for the millions of families who have been directly targeted by this administration’s assault on citizenship. The 14th Amendment was written in the blood of the Black freedom struggle. Attacking it today is not a new legal argument — it is a continuation of a very old project of exclusion and white supremacy.
Let’s be clear – this was an attack on communities of color, including immigrants, who do not fit into the administration’s vision of who belongs in the United States. If birthright citizenship had been overturned, it would have created mass chaos and uncertainty for all American families. Our communities would have faced the most devastating impacts, from increased scrutiny of names, appearance, or accent to the denial of citizenship to people living in the country they were born.
This case was also a test of our democracy and the rule of law. The U.S. Constitution cannot be rewritten by executive order and to suggest otherwise would put all of our rights at risk. This should have been a clear, unanimous decision.
Advancement Project commends the ACLU, Asian Law Caucus, Democracy Defenders Fund, and NAACP Legal Defense Fund for their tireless work on behalf of the plaintiffs and communities across the U.S. This victory belongs to them and to every family that refused this attack on a core American constitutional right.”
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Advancement Project is a next-generation, multi-racial civil rights organization. Rooted in the great human rights struggles for equality and justice, we exist to fulfill America’s promise of a caring, inclusive, and just democracy. We use innovative tools and strategies to strengthen social movements and achieve high-impact policy change. Visit www.advancementproject.org to learn more.
