Depending on how nine justices decide a landmark court case, children born in the United States next year might, or might not, be U.S. citizens.
A U.S. passport and birth certificate. (Illustration by News Decoder)
Editor’s note: On 1 April 2026, The U.S. Supreme Court will hear Trump v. Barbara, a case filed in opposition to an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the long standing legal precedent that anyone born in the United States who is not the son or daughter of a foreign diplomat stationed there is deemed a citizen of the United States.
Most legal scholars say the question of birthright citizenship was settled by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified back in 1868.
One argument made at the time was that if children of immigrants were not entitled to U.S. citizenship they could be left stateless. While many news organizations are covering Trump v. Barbara, we decided to pull together some News Decoder stories that will help readers better understand the complexity of emigration, citizenship and statelessness.
We launched Decoder Replay to help readers better understand current world events by seeing how our correspondents decoded similar events in the past.
What does it mean to be stateless?
Millions of people around the world are stateless, with no rights and condemned to living in the shadows, on the margins of society.
Becoming a citizen is more than filling out a form
For people who emigrate to the United States, the path to citizenship is long and difficult.
It isn’t easy migrating to America. Three refugees’ stories
The plight of these “Lost Boys” didn’t stop after they escaped danger. They’re U.S. citizens today but wrestle with what it means to succeed in America.
She left Colombia for safety in the United States
We wanted to learn about immigration. So Sabina told us her story about leaving Colombia for the U.S. to escape violence and embrace opportunities.
Confused about Puerto Rico? You’re not alone.
The people of Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens but have no vote in Congress. The island is a U.S. territory, but many Americans know nothing about it.
What does it take to be a French citizen?
One correspondent’s quest to procure French nationality and the maroon and gold passport that proclaims one a citizen of Europe.
Can the U.S. immigration system be fixed?
One candidate in the upcoming election vows to deport millions of people. The other wants complicated changes to current laws. Is either solution feasible?
Why is the U.S. Supreme Court so important?
Rulings by just nine justices can have a sweeping impact on business, society and politics. Here’s a primer.
