What is birthright citizenship, and can Trump end the right in the U.S.?
President Trump is seeking to end birthright citizenship, after years of criticizing the constitutional right.
Updated on: April 1, 2026 / 9:46 AM EDT / CBS News
Mr. Trump issued an executive action on the first day of his second term to attempt to deny birthright citizenship to the U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants. The U.S. government has long interpreted the U.S. Constitution to mean that those born on American soil are citizens at birth, regardless of their parents' immigration status, meaning the executive action is likely to be challenged legally.
Mr. Trump is attending the Supreme Court arguments on April 1, the first president in modern history to attend oral arguments.
What is birthright citizenship, and is it in the U.S. Constitution?
Birthright citizenship automatically grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, regardless of the parents' citizenship status.