What's at stake:
Now, the San Francisco appeal court’s decision affirms the nationwide injunctions and brings the issue one step closer to a full constitutional review by the Supreme Court.
For immigrant families in Fresno and throughout the central San Joaquin Valley, a recent federal court decision offers a measure of relief—but lingering legal threats mean the future of birthright citizenship remains uncertain.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently upheld a nationwide block on President Donald Trump’s attempt to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. if their parents are undocumented or certain noncitizens on temporary visas, ruling the executive order unconstitutional.
Trump’s executive order, which would have taken effect in at least 28 states on July 27, had been temporarily blocked following a wave of lawsuits filed after the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 27 decision limiting lower courts’ authority to issue nationwide injunctions against executive policies.
The 6–3 Supreme Court’s ruling addressed three federal lawsuits challenging Trump’s birthright citizenship order — a direct challenge to the long-standing interpretation of the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Now, local organizers and attorneys say the 9th Circuit decision reinforces what they’ve long understood: Children born in the U.S., regardless of their parents’ immigration status, are citizens.
“We do have some of the strongest immigrant protections in the country, and as an organization, we need to keep advocating—both at the state and federal levels,” said Pricilla Ramos, project manager for advocacy and community organizing at the Education and Leadership Foundation in Fresno. “We’re staying in close communication with our partners to make sure accurate information is being shared and that community voices are being uplifted in every space we’re in.”
Ramos said the decision provides much-needed reassurance to families who were left confused and anxious after the Supreme Court’s June ruling.
Many parents, Ramos said, were unsure whether their children’s citizenship was still valid and whether it would continue to guarantee access to education, healthcare and protection from deportation.
“This decision provides clarity and reassurance for immigrant families across the Central Valley and beyond,” said Ramos. “Many live with uncertainty about how changing policies might affect their U.S.-born children. The court’s ruling protects these families from having their children’s citizenship status challenged or undermined.”
How the 9th Circuit ruling protects a basic constitutional right
According to the San Francisco-based court ruling, two of the three judges found that Trump’s executive order “contradicts the plain language of the 14th Amendment’s grant of citizenship to ‘all persons born in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,’” according to the 48-page decision.
They rejected the Justice Department’s argument that the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” could be used to change the long-standing rule that anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen. The government had argued this rule shouldn’t apply to babies born to undocumented immigrants or to mothers who are in the country legally but only for a short time.
In an email statement to Fresnoland, Abigail Jackson, deputy press secretary at the White House, said that “the 9th Circuit misinterpreted the purpose and the text of the 14th Amendment. We look forward to being vindicated on appeal.”
Now, the appeal court’s decision affirms the nationwide injunctions and brings the issue one step closer to a full constitutional review by the Supreme Court.
Armida Mendoza, an immigration attorney in Fresno, said the ruling is a critical affirmation of rights that should never have been in question.
“The 9th Circuit’s court order states what we have known all along, that birthright citizenship is a constitutional right,” said Mendoza. “This decision will ensure that families are still protected by the U.S. Constitution.”
Mendoza noted that the Supreme Court’s June ruling did not directly address birthright citizenship as a constitutional right but instead broadened the scope of presidential authority, moving the country closer to a model of unchecked executive power.
Mendoza said the Supreme Court’s earlier decision narrowing the scope of nationwide injunctions remains concerning. It means that if a similar policy were introduced again and not challenged in a specific court, it could still go into effect in some states.
“If there’s no injunction, no case, or you’re not a class member, then technically there’s nothing stopping the enforcement and that could have devastating effects,” Mendoza said. “As immigrants, we contribute to every part of the country — even areas with strong Trump support.”
Mendoza said that Trump is not only going after judicial power, but also targeting the nonprofits and legal organizations that file these lawsuits to defend immigrant rights.
“In a way, he’s trying to cripple our ability to fight for basic constitutional protections,” said Mendoza.
Fresno legal experts say the fight isn’t over
Now, Mendoza said she’s uncertain what legal challenges may emerge next—or whether the 9th Circuit’s order will ultimately put the birthright citizenship debate to rest.
“Immigrants and our immigrant community have been used as scapegoats and excuses for a distraction from other very serious issues this country is facing,” said Mendoza. “I don’t foresee SCOTUS ruling against something that is not ambiguous but rather very clearly stated in the U.S. Constitution, but then again, we are living in unprecedented times.”
Ramos said while the 9th Circuit decision is a strong legal precedent, she doesn’t believe the debate is over.
Ramos said her organization has been working to reassure families amid the uncertainty surrounding birthright citizenship, but anxiety in the community remains high.
“There may be future attempts, whether legislative or judicial, to revisit or reinterpret the 14th Amendment,” said Ramos. “That said, this ruling sets a clear standard that will be difficult to overturn without a constitutional amendment.”
Ramos recommends that people stay prepared and look into resources that can help such as the American Immigration Lawyer Association, National Immigration Legal Services Directory, and the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice Rapid Response networks.
