Overview
- The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday with President Trump in the audience in a case over his order to deny automatic citizenship to children born to undocumented or temporary‑visa parents.
- Across the bench, justices pressed Solicitor General D. John Sauer on legal and practical gaps, asking how hospitals would verify parents’ status at birth and why narrow exceptions like diplomats should extend to millions of families.
- Lower federal courts have blocked the order nationwide as likely unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment and inconsistent with long‑standing federal citizenship laws.
- The court repeatedly invoked the 1898 Wong Kim Ark ruling, which affirmed birthright citizenship for U.S.‑born children of noncitizens, while some conservatives suggested the case could be resolved on statutory grounds.
- Ruling expected by late June or early July, with researchers estimating more than 250,000 births a year at stake and warning of risks of stateless children and new burdens for birth records and Social Security processing.