Vice President JD Vance Criticizes Supreme Court’s Birthright Citizenship Ruling

Vice President JD Vance strongly criticized the Supreme Court’s decision on birthright citizenship. Speaking on “The Ingraham Angle,” Vance called the ruling “atrocious” and expressed concern it could lead to more exploitation of the immigration system.

The Supreme Court’s ruling countered former President Donald Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship. The court confirmed that the Constitution grants automatic American citizenship to most individuals born in the United States. Vance stated, “This is a very disappointing ruling from the Supreme Court. Of course, we respect it, but we also think that it was a major, major mistake.” He suggested that people might travel to the U.S. just to have children and gain full citizenship benefits, describing this situation as “preposterous.”

A new U.S. citizen holds the U.S. flag and the Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony at George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon, Va., on July 4, 2025. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The Supreme Court’s decision nullified Trump’s Executive Order 14160, ruling it was in conflict with the 14th Amendment. This decision ensures that most children born in the United States will maintain their citizenship rights regardless of their parents’ immigration status, contrary to the Trump administration’s position.

Vance noted a “silver lining” in the decision, pointing out that the court’s narrow opinion indicated birthright citizenship could be vulnerable. He explained, “A lot of legal experts expected this case to go the wrong direction by 7–2, or even 8–1.” According to him, this suggests that the basis for birthright citizenship, as understood in the 14th Amendment, is increasingly unstable.

Vice President JD Vance addresses a news conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on June 18, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Vance expressed opposition to birthright citizenship, a practice rooting in U.S. history for over 150 years, claiming it rewards illegal immigrants. “I hate to call it birthright citizenship,” he told Fox News. “It’s fundamentally a loophole in our immigration system that rewards illegal aliens just because they have a baby in the United States while they’re here illegally.”

The administration is exploring various responses to the Court’s decision. These include potential regulations regarding U.S. territories such as the Northern Mariana Islands. Concerns have been raised about individuals from China traveling to these islands to give birth and acquire U.S. citizenship for their children, termed “birth tourism.”

Vance concluded, “We’ve actually got an opportunity to reverse this decision, as we have reversed many bad decisions in the past. We must enhance the immigration system and be vigilant about who enters our country to ensure they do not misuse rights granted by what we regard as an erroneous Supreme Court ruling.”

Nora Moriarty is a Production Assistant at FOX News.