Johnson says Congress must act on birthright citizenship

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Congress must pursue a legislative or constitutional response to birthright citizenship, following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down a related executive order from President Donald Trump. The court's decision, issued on June 30, 2026, preserved the long-standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to nearly all individuals born on U.S. soil.

In a televised interview on July 5, Johnson expressed disappointment with the 6-3 ruling, which rejected Trump's policy to deny automatic citizenship to children born in the United States to parents who are in the country illegally or on temporary visas. Johnson argued the current system has been devalued by what he termed "birthright tourism," calling it a threat to national security and the rule of law. He stated that Congress is evaluating all options, including immediate legislative action or the longer process of a constitutional amendment.

The executive order, signed by Trump shortly after he took office last year, was blocked by lower courts before reaching the Supreme Court. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts affirmed that children born in the United...