SCOTUS ruling on birthright citizenship protects U.S.-born children from statelessness, deportation

Washington, D.C. – Refugee Congress welcomes today’s Supreme Court ruling to uphold birthright citizenship for all children born in the United States, regardless of their parents’ status, country of origin, or circumstances. This ruling reaffirms the constitutional promise that citizenship is guaranteed to anyone born on U.S. soil.

This is an important win for American-born children of stateless parents and refugee women — including survivors of gender-based violence. It protects these children’s rights including critical access to healthcare, food, and basic social services, and shields them from the threat of detention and deportation.

While we celebrate this ruling, we recognize that these protections do not extend to the parents and families of these children. Last week, the Court allowed the administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians in a decision that will tear families apart from their American-born children that today’s ruling protected.

Congress must now take action to protect our neighbors. Refugee Congress urges lawmakers to pass permanent protections for TPS holders, restore protections for all refugee populations, stateless people, and other forcibly displaced members of our communities.