**Trump to Request US Supreme Court Rehearing on Birthright Citizenship**
*Published on July 9, 2026*
In a significant development regarding immigration policy, former President Donald Trump has announced plans to request a rehearing from the United States Supreme Court concerning his administration's efforts to limit birthright citizenship. This announcement follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down Trump's executive order aimed at ending automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents without permanent legal status.
The Supreme Court's decision, delivered in a 6-3 ruling, represented a setback for Trump, who has long sought to reform immigration laws in the United States. Speaking on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the ruling, stating, “AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP IS NOT FOR SALE! In fact, that is a crime, and therefore, the Supreme Court’s ruling is wrong.” He emphasized his intention to seek a rehearing “IMMEDIATELY.”
The executive order in question, signed shortly after Trump took office on January 20, 2025, aimed to prevent individuals born in the U.S. to parents on temporary legal statuses or without documentation from automatically receiving citizenship. Trump's administration argued that this change was necessary to address concerns over immigration and citizenship policy. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the directive violated the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees citizenship to individuals born on U.S. soil.
Rights advocates have welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, viewing it as a reaffirmation of the principle that anyone born in the U.S. is entitled to citizenship. Cecillia Wang, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who represented the challenge against Trump's order, stated that the ruling “reaffirms a fundamental American promise – if you are born here, you are a citizen.”
The implications of Trump's proposed changes to birthright citizenship are significant. A study conducted by the Migration Policy Institute and Penn State in May of the previous year estimated that under Trump's order, approximately 255,000 infants born annually in the U.S. would not receive citizenship. This situation could potentially increase the undocumented population by an estimated 2.7 million by the year 2045, creating a multigenerational underclass that would inherit social disadvantages from their parents and grandparents.
Despite Trump's intentions to pursue a rehearing, legal experts suggest that the chances of the Supreme Court agreeing to revisit the case are slim. Historically, the Supreme Court rarely grants requests for rehearings, and it has been decades since a case was retried after a ruling was issued. Furthermore, public opinion polls consistently indicate strong support for birthright citizenship among the American populace, complicating Trump's efforts to rally congressional support for new legislation that would restrict this practice.
Since taking office, Trump has aimed to overhaul various aspects of immigration policy, achieving some victories in the Supreme Court on related matters. These include decisions that allowed his administration to terminate special legal protections for residents from crisis-affected countries and implement controversial measures to physically block asylum seekers from entering the U.S. to apply for protection.
As the political landscape evolves, the debate over birthright citizenship remains a contentious issue, reflecting broader discussions about immigration reform in the United States. The outcome of Trump's request for a rehearing could have lasting implications for immigration policy and the rights of individuals born in the U.S. as the nation grapples with its identity and values surrounding citizenship.