Supreme Court Limits Scope of Nationwide Injunctions Against Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order

In a 6-3 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that lower courts overstepped their authority by issuing universal injunctions blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship. Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, writing for the majority, emphasized that federal courts are not empowered to oversee the Executive Branch broadly but must resolve cases consistent with their statutory authority. “When a court concludes the Executive Branch has acted unlawfully, the answer is not for the court to exceed its power, too,” Barrett wrote.
The case, Trump v. CASA, Inc., centered on whether district courts could issue nationwide injunctions to halt the enforcement of Trump’s order, which sought to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. The majority ruled that such universal injunctions likely exceed federal courts’ equitable authority. Barrett noted that injunctions should be limited to providing complete relief to plaintiffs with standing, not to impose nationwide restrictions.
Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch authored concurring opinions, echoing concerns about the expansion of federal court power. Meanwhile, Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, arguing the ruling undermines constitutional protections for individuals not directly involved in lawsuits.
The decision does not address the merits of Trump’s order but curtails the ability of lower courts to issue broad injunctions against federal policies.

Published: 6/27/2025