The Digester
politics

Supreme Court hears challenge to US birthright citizenship as Trump attends

Justices will review the legality of an executive order limiting birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment after lower courts blocked the measure, and President Trump became the first sitting president to attend a Supreme Court hearing.

Apr 1st 2026 · United States

Insights

  • The court will decide whether President Trump's executive order denying birthright citizenship to children of undocumented or temporary visa holders is lawful.
  • Lower courts had blocked the order and the Supreme Court lifted those blocks to allow review.
  • The 14th Amendment currently guarantees citizenship by birth, so ending that right requires a Supreme Court ruling or a constitutional amendment.
  • Trump attended the hearing, becoming the first sitting US president to appear before the Supreme Court.
  • A ruling upholding the administration could affect the legal status of about 250,000 US-born infants each year.

Sources