Rhode Island Democrats haven’t agreed with several of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent rulings, but they agreed with the high court’s decision Tuesday, June 30, preserving citizenship for anyone born in the country.
The 6-3 ruling struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order that said children born in this country to parents here temporarily or illegally are not citizens.
The court’s three most conservative justices dissented and voted to uphold Trump’s executive order. Justice Brett Kavanaugh disagreed on the constitutional question, but would have rules against Trump’s executive order based on federal law.
Supporters of birthright citizenship rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court as the justices hear oral arguments in Trump v. Barbara in Washington, DC, on April 1, 2026.
Rhode Island leaders react to birthright citizenship ruling
“Today’s Supreme Court decision in Trump v. Barbara is reason to remain hopeful,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, who in January 2025 joined a coalition challenging the executive order, said Tuesday. “American-born children cannot be deprived of their constitutional rights under the Fourteenth Amendment – and once again, that is settled law.”
Rhode Island U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said the court was right to “thwart President Trump’s ploy to strip the right of citizenship from individuals born in the United States. Today the Supreme Court affirmed that President Trump cannot change the rules of naturalization and citizenship with the stroke of his pen.”
U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, who represents RI’s 2nd Congressional District, said he is “glad to see the Supreme Court uphold the clear language of the Constitution in the face of President Trump’s lawless attempt to strip American citizens of their rights.”
U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo, of Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District, said Trump’s attacks on immigration “are an attack on the very character of our nation.”
“Our values of diversity and inclusion – in the full range of rights, privileges, and freedoms in our democracy – are essential to our country’s greatness, and we must continue to protect the rights of all Americans,” Amo wrote in a news release.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse posted this reaction to the ruling on the social media site X:
“Amazing that the Trumpiest extreme of the extremist wing went with Trump even on something clear as this. It should have been 9-0, but then so should the presidential immunity decision, and it was 6-3 for the extremists’ anti-constitutional invention
“If you are born here, you belong here,” Gov. Dan McKee posted in response to the ruling.
Rhode Island Republicans weigh in
Rhode Island Republican National Committeewoman Sue Cienki said she was “not surprised” by the decision.
“Our immigration system and an open border policy from previous administrations need course corrections if our nation is to survive,” Cienki wrote. “Congress should get to work and heed Justice Kavanaugh’s advice to fix birthright citizenship in a way that doesn’t violate the 14th Amendment.”
GOP congressional candidates Ray McKay, Dr. Stephen Skoly and Vic Mellor did not have an immediate reaction to the ruling.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI leaders largely praise SCOTUS birthright citizenship ruling
