SCOTUS Cedes Power to Executive Branch, Undermining 14th Amendment Birthright Citizenship Protections
The Supreme Court’s decision is a direct assault on the Constitution and the rights of all citizens
Washington, D.C. — Today, the United States Supreme Court issued a 6-3 court ruling limiting nationwide injunctions—weakening the judiciary branch of government. This decision effectively undermines the balance of powers, and fractures legal protections across state lines. The Supreme Court’s ruling reflects a broader pattern of institutional stress that sets us back to an even more chaotic time of our nation’s history.
Condemning this egregious decision, Voto Latino President and Co-Founder María Teresa Kumar issued the following statement:
“Today is an extremely concerning day for our country. With this ruling, not only did the United States Supreme Court renounce its obligations to protect and uphold the rule of law, but the conservative justices have also fully endorsed the Trump Administration’s extreme agenda. The Supreme Court is setting a dangerous precedent that will gradually impact every U.S. citizen. ”
“Limiting nationwide injunctions, gives this Administration the greenlight to continue advancing their efforts to end birthright citizenship. This decision turns the American promise on its head, betraying the values of equality and justice that have guided our democracy for generations.
“This isn’t about policy reform—it is about the systematic rollback of rights for communities that have long powered the growth and resilience of this nation. Since its creation, immigrants and their children have strengthened the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the United States. Denying their U.S.-born children the right to citizenship is a cruel and unjust act that undermines our future.
“Let’s be clear about this: The United States Supreme Court just gave this administration even more power to further their extreme political agenda. ”
In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor expressed the following:
“The rule of law is not a given in this Nation, nor any other. It is a precept of our democracy that will endure only if those brave enough in every branch fight for its survival. Today, the Court abdicates its vital role in that effort. With the stroke of a pen, the President has made a ‘solemn mockery’ of our Constitution. Rather than stand firm, the Court gives way. Because such complicity should know no place in our system of law, I dissent”
This ruling marks a dangerous escalation in the ongoing effort to erode civil rights and sow division.
The implications of this Supreme Court ruling will be staggering. The United States is home to more than 17.8 million children that have at least one non-citizen parent. Nearly 250,000 babies are born each year to undocumented immigrant parents. Out of these 17.8 million children, 86% of them are U.S.-born. This ruling does not reflect the needs of American families, nor does it reflect the realities of the 21st century.
As the country stands at a crossroads, Voto Latino calls on lawmakers, community leaders, and the public to resist this assault on our rights and to reaffirm the constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the law. The 14th Amendment was designed to ensure that no person born in this country would be denied their rightful place in it. That vision must not be abandoned.
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Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered nearly two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.