Supreme Court Ruling on Birthright Citizenship: What to Know

Updated July 3, 2025

You may have heard that there was a recent Supreme Court ruling on a case regarding birthright citizenship. Here’s what it means.

Quick background

Many lawsuits were filed against Trump after he issued an executive order calling to take away the right to birthright citizenship. The lawsuits argued that this order is unconstitutional. District courts blocked Trump’s administration from implementing the order. The case ended up before the Supreme Court.

What the court ruled

On June 27, 2025, the US Supreme Court decided in Trump v. CASA that lower federal courts cannot automatically block nationwide enforcement of policies such as President Trump’s executive order to limit birthright citizenship, unless those injunctions are tailored to the specific parties in a lawsuit

The court did not rule on whether the policy is constitutional; it only addressed the scope of injunctions by lower courts.

What this means for now

The executive order remains temporarily delayed. A nationwide injunction no longer blocks its enforcement everywhere, but lower courts have 30 days to decide how the injunctions should apply. This may lead to inconsistent enforcement in different states, depending on where legal challenges are ongoing.

No child born today or in the near future is being stripped of their citizenship by this decision. The Supreme Court did not rule on whether the Executive Order is constitutional. There are existing protections in place.

What you need to know right now

Birthright citizenship is still legally secure under the 14th Amendment and no immediate changes have taken effect. States and various advocacy groups are mobilizing through lawsuits, including class actions to safeguard citizenship rights locally and nationally.

What to expect in the coming weeks

Over the coming weeks, lower courts will determine how broadly or narrowly to enforce injunctions. This will impact which states are protected. Activists and lawyers are preparing new legal actions to preserve universal citizenship protections.

In summary

Nothing has changed yet. Birthright citizenship remains protected. The Supreme Court’s ruling focused on procedural limits for nationwide blocks and did not decide on actual citizenship law. Multiple legal efforts are already underway to defend universal citizenship rights. We will keep you informed, especially if these changes begin to affect birth certificates, benefits, or services in Washington State.

Community Alert: Information on Denaturalization

Updated July 1, 2025

In June 2025, the Department of Justice announced that they are prioritizing denaturalization. Denaturalization means taking U.S. citizenship away from Americans.

The Department of Justice can take legal action to revoke U.S. citizenship if it was obtained illegally or through hiding important facts or making false statements. The Civil Division indicated that they will give top priority to pursuing denaturalization in all cases allowed by law and backed by evidence.

What kind of cases are they looking at?

Individuals who fit the following descriptions may be at risk for denaturalization.

1. Individuals who may pose a threat to national security due to links to terrorism, espionage, or the illegal export of sensitive U.S. goods, technology, or information.
2. Individuals who have engaged in torture, war crimes or other human rights violations.
3. Individuals involved in supporting or advancing the illegal activities of criminal gangs, drug cartels, or transnational organizations.
4. Individuals who have committed felonies not disclosed during the naturalization process.
5. Individuals who committed human trafficking, sex offenses, or violent crimes.
6. Individuals who committed financial fraud against the United States, including PPP loan fraud and Medicaid or Medicare fraud.
7. individuals who engaged in fraud against private individuals, funds, or corporations.
8. Individuals who obtained U.S. citizenship through corruption, fraud, or false information, and do not fall under another priority category.
9. Individuals referred by a U.S. Attorney’s Office or linked to pending criminal charges that don’t fall under another priority category.
10. Other cases referred to the Civil Division that are considered important enough to pursue.

If you are concerned about your status or citizenship, and are a Muslim living in Washington state, reach out to CAIR-WA at cairwa.org/gethelp.

2025 Muslim and African Ban

Updated June 5, 2025

On June 4 2025, President Trump issued a new presidential proclamation expanding the Muslim and African Bans. This order blocks or restricts entry into the United States for nationals of 19 countries—most of which are Muslim-majority, African, or Caribbean.

It is scheduled to take effect at 9:01 pm Pacific on Sunday, June 8.

Who Is Affected 

This order: 

• Fully suspends both immigrant and nonimmigrant entry from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
• Partially suspends entry from seven additional countries, including Cuba, Venezuela, Laos, and Sierra Leone. 
• Applies only to individuals who are outside the U.S. on June 9 and do not already have a valid visa. 

If You Are Abroad Right Now

• If you are from one of the listed countries and already have a valid U.S. visa, this order does not apply to you.
• If you are a green card holder or a dual national traveling with a passport from a non-banned country, the order does not apply to you.
• You should travel with your valid visa or green card.
• That said, if you are eligible to enter, please consider attempting to return to the U.S. before the ban takes effect. 

If You Are Inside the U.S.

• The order does not change your legal status or impact you if you are already inside the U.S. and have a valid visa.
• If you are from a listed country and do not have permanent status, we advise against international travel for the time being.
• If you are undocumented or fear future enforcement, reach out for a legal consultation and Know Your Rights resources.

What else to know

• Expect slow processes in immigration at the Port of Seattle and other entry points to the U.S.
• We are continuing to monitor challenges, changes in policy, and will keep the community informed.
• We fought the bans in Trump’s first presidency, and we will fight this one too, insha’Allah.

When to reach out to your local CAIR chapter

• If you or your loved ones are affected, please reach out to your local CAIR chapter. We can help you assess travel risks, provide you with low-cost legal services, and provide updates as the situation evolves.
• If you are affected by this policy, your story can help those who are fighting to change it.
• For WA: If you are a Washington state government employee whose work is affected by this policy, please reach out to us.

Where to call:

• CAIR-WA: 206-367-4081 or our online intake form
• WAISN (Washington Immigration Solidarity Network) Deportation Defense Hotline (Monday-Friday; 6am-6pm) at 1-844-724-3737.
• American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) 24/7 Emergency Legal Hotline at 844-ADC-9955