Vance says citizenship decision was a mistake and government seeks options

US Vice President JD Vance called the Supreme Court ruling on birthright citizenship "very disappointing" but said the administration is looking at other options to make it more difficult for children of noncitizens to obtain citizenship.

"Of course we respect the decision, but we also think it was a huge mistake, as Justices Alito and Thomas pointed out," Vance told Fox News on Tuesday night (30), arguing that the measure could encourage people to go to the US on vacation and give birth to guarantee the baby's US citizenship.

"It is simply an absurd decision, and the absurdity of this result suggests why the Supreme Court should have ruled otherwise," said the vice president.

One of the options Vance said the administration is evaluating -- suggested by Roger Severino, vice president of economic and domestic policy at the Heritage Foundation -- is to amend President Trump's initial executive order so that it also applies to U.S. territories.

"President Trump should immediately amend his executive order so that it applies to U.S. territories, which are not automatically bound by the 14th Amendment. Trump should continue to press this issue where he can and force the Court to confront the logic of its decision," Severino said in a post on social media site X.

Calling the suggestion a "great idea," Vance said, "I saw that point raised by Roger Severino. We're certainly looking at it," adding that the government needs to consider "some legislative and statutory changes" that could make it more difficult to enjoy land-right citizenship - or what he called a "legal loophole."

"This is fundamentally a loophole in our immigration system that rewards illegal immigrants simply for having a baby in the United States while they are in the country illegally," Vance said.

"There are several measures that we are already analyzing in the government, Laura, to try to close this loophole, but, fundamentally, we are talking about correcting a problem created by the Supreme Court," he added.

Defeat for the Trump administration
In a harsh defeat for President Donald Trump, the United States Supreme Court on Tuesday (30) rejected his attempt to restrict birthright citizenship in the United States, frustrating one of his main priorities in his crackdown on immigration.

The 6-3 ruling marked the second time this year that the court invalidated a major Trump initiative, following February's decision to strike down his sweeping global tariffs.

The justices upheld a lower court ruling that blocked Trump's executive order directing U.S. agencies not to recognize the citizenship of children born in the United States if neither parent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, also known as a "green card" holder.

Opponents of Trump's order have argued that it violates the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which confers citizenship on those born in the United States who are "subject to its jurisdiction."

Trump, who has repeatedly tested the limits of presidential power in domestic and foreign policy, issued the order last year on his first day back in office as part of a suite of policies to crack down on legal and illegal immigration.

The Supreme Court rules on what it means to be an American citizen, just before the Fourth of July holiday, when the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding.

Before the ruling, some experts estimated that Trump's directive could affect the legal status of as many as 250,000 babies born each year and could require the families of millions of others to prove the citizenship of their newborns.

Source: CNN