Congressional Republicans Launch Legislative Blitz to Restrict Birthright Citizenship Following Supreme Court Defeat

Congressional Republicans Launch Legislative Blitz to Restrict Birthright Citizenship Following Supreme Court Defeat

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling in Trump v. Barbara on June 30, 2026, which struck down the Trump administration's executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship, congressional Republicans have launched a coordinated legislative push to restrict the practice.¹² The effort is heavily influenced by Justice Brett Kavanaugh's separate opinion, in which he suggested that while the executive order was unlawful under current federal law, Congress retains the statutory authority to write exceptions to birthright citizenship.

Coordinated Legislative Proposals

Several bills have been introduced or revived immediately following the ruling:

• The "Anchors Away Act": Introduced on June 30, 2026, by Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN), this bill seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act's definition of who is "subject to the jurisdiction" of the United States. It would restrict automatic birthright citizenship to children who have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or an active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces.
• The "Ban Birth Tourism Act": Introduced on July 6, 2026, by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), this bill targets the use of temporary visas, prohibiting foreign nationals from obtaining nonimmigrant visas if their primary purpose is to give birth in the United States to secure citizenship for their child.
• The "Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025" (H.R. 569): Spearheaded by Representative Brian Babin (R-TX) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), this stalled legislation is being eyed by leadership as a primary vehicle to restrict citizenship to children of citizens and permanent residents.

Leadership and Hardline Pressure

House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled on July 5, 2026, that the House would move "immediately" to advance a legislative fix, stating:

"If there's some legislative fix, we'll advance that immediately... If it's a constitutional amendment, as you know, it takes a little more time. But we've got to address this."

The push has also become a tool for hardline conservative leverage. Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) threatened to halt funding for government operations on the House floor, stating:

"I have no interest in funding the operations of a government that has been undermined by this United States Supreme Court... We better fix this."

Despite the aggressive rhetoric, analysts note that the legislative push faces near-impossible odds of becoming law given the razor-thin Republican margins in the House and the near-certainty of a Democratic filibuster in the Senate. However, the issue is expected to consume significant floor time and serve as a central campaign theme ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.