Johnson Says Congress Must Address Birthright Citizenship After SCOTUS Loss

Source: Newsweek

Published Jul 05, 2026 at 01:52 PM EDT updated Jul 05, 2026 at 03:20 PM EDT


House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday that Congress must take up the legislative fight over birthright citizenship after the Supreme Court struck down an executive order by President Donald Trump that sought to restrict the practice.

The comments by the Louisiana Republican signal that party leaders are pivoting to a new legislative strategy following one of the most significant legal defeats of Trump’s second term.

Johnson argued that lawmakers should act after the high court's 6-3 decision preserved automatic citizenship for children born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' immigration status. Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Johnson claimed the current system is being abused through "birthright tourism" and suggested the House would move quickly if a legislative path is viable.

"Justice [Clarence] Thomas explained that the 14th Amendment, the original intent, was to enhance and really value citizenship," Johnson said. "And it's been devalued because of birthright tourism, which is what we have now. It's a threat to the rule of law and national security. We do need to address it."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/johnson-congress-birthright-citizenship-scotus-ruling-12159422