US President Donald Trump has announced plans to end birthright citizenship in the United States, claiming the principle was intended for the children of enslaved people rather than for “wealthy foreigners” giving birth in the country.
Birthright Citizenship Under Scrutiny
In a recent interview with Politico, Trump defended an executive order he signed on his first day back in office in January 2025, which aimed to end automatic US citizenship for babies born on American soil.
He warned that a Supreme Court ruling against his policy would be “devastating” for his administration.
Historical Context of the 14th Amendment
Trump argued that the legal foundation of birthright citizenship “had everything to do with the babies of slaves” during the Civil War era.
“That case was not meant for some rich person coming from another country … and all of a sudden their whole family becomes United States citizens,” he said, adding that he believed judges “understand it, too”.
He claimed the law was never intended to cover children born to wealthy foreign nationals visiting the US.
The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, states that “all persons born or naturalised in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States,” aiming to secure rights for formerly enslaved individuals.
Legal Challenges and Court Battles
Following the order in January, the administration announced that children born in the US more than 30 days after the inauguration would no longer automatically qualify for citizenship.
The move faced immediate legal opposition, with multiple federal courts initially blocking its enforcement.
In June, the Supreme Court ruled that lower courts lacked the authority to issue nationwide injunctions against an executive order, clearing the path for a full review of the policy’s constitutionality.
Economic Argument for the Policy
Trump has framed his efforts to end birthright citizenship around economic concerns, arguing that the United States “cannot afford to house tens of millions of people.”
He maintains that the policy is necessary to control immigration and reduce the financial burden on the country.
Supreme Court Decision Expected Soon
The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the matter in the coming months.