Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday as the justices heard arguments in a landmark case that could reshape the understanding of birthright citizenship. The case challenges an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on his first day back in office, which limits automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who are neither citizens nor lawful permanent residents.
Among the roughly 500 protesters was Young Woon Han, a lawful permanent resident from Korea, now living in Columbus, Ohio. With his wife — also Korean, living in the U.S. on a work permit — Han expressed concern about the potential impact of the policy on their future family.
“This makes us nervous, for sure, as aspirational parents,” Han said. Though their child would still be eligible for citizenship under the current policy, Han fears that further restrictions could follow. “We are afraid that the way things are going, some policy may not affect us now, but it is eventually going to affect all of us.”
Trump’s order, which several lower courts have temporarily blocked, seeks to deny birthright citizenship to children born in the U.S. unless at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The Supreme Court is now reviewing whether to limit those injunctions to specific states or uphold a nationwide block.
Protesters outside the court chanted slogans such as “Immigrants are welcome here” and “Sí, se puede,” while Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” played over loudspeakers. Han addressed the crowd, drawing attention to the legal inconsistency that could arise without a nationwide injunction. “If there’s no nationwide injunction, one baby gets U.S. citizenship and the other doesn’t. It ain’t right.”
Han held a sign referencing Wong Kim Ark, the landmark 1898 Supreme Court case that affirmed citizenship for children born on U.S. soil, even to non-citizen parents. The decision has long been considered the foundation of America’s birthright citizenship policy.
Several members of Congress joined the demonstration. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) spoke emotionally about her own experience as the daughter of undocumented immigrants. “I am a birthright citizen. My parents were undocumented when I was born. They raised me to fight for justice,” she said.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also spoke, with Pelosi reading aloud from the 14th Amendment. “No state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,” she read, to cheers from the crowd. “Know your power,” she urged demonstrators.
The Court’s decision could have sweeping implications for millions and is expected later this year.