Trump to Attend Supreme Court Hearing on Birthright Citizenship

President Donald Trump announced his intention to be present for the oral arguments in the Supreme Court case, Trump vs. Barbara, on Wednesday. This case aims to address whether U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants and foreign visitors are entitled to birthright citizenship under the Constitution.

When asked about the Supreme Court hearing on April 1, Trump confirmed, “I’m going,” and added, “I think so, because I’ve been following this debate for quite a while.”

He expressed his concerns about foreign nationals, stating, “Suddenly there are Chinese millionaires and billionaires with a staggering number of children—75, in some cases, or even 10, becoming American citizens.” Trump emphasized that “[the 14th Amendment] was created in the context of slavery… It was about protecting the offspring of slaves.” He remarked, “This wasn’t intended to support wealthy individuals seeking American citizenship for their children. It’s the most absurd thing I’ve encountered.”

After taking office last year, Trump signed an executive order which sought to terminate birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants and tourists. These children are often referred to as “anchor babies,” as their parents typically remain in the U.S. permanently and can sponsor family members for green cards once the children reach adulthood.

Following Trump’s executive order, several left-leaning groups filed lawsuits against the administration, leading the matter to reach the Supreme Court. A decision is anticipated later this year.

In 2023, estimates from the Center for Immigration Studies suggested that around 225,000 to 250,000 children, termed “anchor babies,” were born to illegal immigrant parents, making up about 7 percent of all U.S. births that year.

The Supreme Court has not definitively ruled that U.S.-born children of illegal aliens are entitled to birthright citizenship. Numerous legal experts debate this issue, with many prominent conservative scholars arguing that the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment doesn’t guarantee mandatory citizenship for these individuals, as they are not under U.S. jurisdiction in the context understood during the ratification of the amendment.