The Supreme Court will hear a landmark challenge to birthright citizenship on Wednesday, testing whether President Trump's executive order ending citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants and temporary foreign visitors is constitutional. The order, blocked by lower courts and never implemented, aimed to strip citizenship from an estimated 200,000 babies born annually to undocumented parents. Opponents warn it would create chaos and undermine the status of millions already granted citizenship under the 14th Amendment. The case hinges on the amendment's citizenship clause, ratified in 1868, which grants citizenship to 'all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.' The administration argues this excludes children of undocumented migrants, citing historical intent and the 1898 Wong Kim Ark precedent. The court's decision could redefine American citizenship and has drawn the president's personal involvement, with Trump planning to attend the arguments, a rare move. A ruling is expected by July. This case is part of a series testing Trump's policies, following the court's recent rejection of his tariffs.

The core legal dispute centers on interpreting the 14th Amendment's citizenship clause. The administration contends the framers intended it to apply only to formerly enslaved people, not children of undocumented immigrants or temporary visitors. They argue the amendment's language, mirroring a 1952 law, was misinterpreted over time. Challengers, represented by the ACLU, counter that the clause enshrines a foundational principle of birthright citizenship, beyond the reach of any branch of government, drawing on English common law traditions. The plaintiffs, including expectant parents, argue the guarantee is constitutionally protected. The case also revisits the 1898 Wong Kim Ark decision, which affirmed citizenship for a man born to non-citizen parents in San Francisco. The administration seeks to 'correct long-enduring misconceptions' about the amendment's scope, claiming children of undocumented migrants lack allegiance. The court could resolve this through various interpretations if it disagrees with the administration's arguments.

A decision could fundamentally alter the legal status of millions born in the U.S. to non-citizens, potentially creating a new class of stateless individuals and triggering widespread uncertainty. The case's outcome will be closely watched by immigration advocates and policymakers, with implications extending far beyond the courtroom. The Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling by the end of June or early July, finalizing a major constitutional test for the Trump administration's immigration agenda.