Trumps Biggest Supreme Court Test This Term Birthright Citizenship Immigration Rulings Among Key Cases

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According to NBC News, the US Supreme Court has 20 cases left to decide before concluding its current term at the end of June.

Among the most closely watched are challenges involving Trump's effort to restrict birthright citizenship, his attempts to remove officials from independent federal agencies and his administration's hard-line immigration policies.

The rulings come months after the Supreme Court dealt Trump a setback by blocking his sweeping tariff policy in February. While legal experts expect the administration to lose some of the pending cases, others could reinforce the president's efforts to expand executive authority.

Here's a look at the key Trump-related cases awaiting decisions.

The most anticipated ruling concerns Trump's effort to reinterpret the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment.

The administration argues that children born in the United States should not automatically receive citizenship if their parents are in the country illegally or are temporary visitors.

According to NBC News, Trump attended oral arguments in April, becoming the first sitting US president to personally attend a Supreme Court hearing.

In a Truth Social post last week, Trump defended the proposal, writing: "The United States States of America cannot live with the shackles of Birthright Citizenship. It is not economically, or otherwise, sustainable, and no other Country in the World, of consequence, does it!"

NBC News reported that legal analysts believe the justices appeared skeptical of the administration's constitutional argument during oral arguments, making a ruling against Trump a possibility.

The Supreme Court is also considering whether Trump had the authority to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.

Trump sought Cook's dismissal over allegations of mortgage fraud, claims she has denied. The court had previously declined to immediately allow her removal, and observers believe the administration could again face an adverse ruling.

A separate case involving former Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter may produce a different outcome.

NBC News reported that the justices appear more open to endorsing Trump's broader claim that presidents should be able to remove leaders of independent agencies without providing a specific reason.

Robert Luther III, a professor at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School who previously served in the Trump White House, told NBC News that the administration has advanced "an extremely robust vision" of presidential authority.

"While ultimately there may be a few losses, I think the court continues to move in a pro-executive direction, a vision that is more consistent with President Trump's view of the executive branch," he said.

Immigration policies under the microscope

The justices are also expected to rule on whether the administration can revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants.

The linked cases will determine whether the government can quickly withdraw humanitarian protections currently granted to eligible migrants.

Another pending case concerns the administration's authority to turn away asylum seekers at the US border, another key element of Trump's immigration agenda.

Other major Supreme Court rulings expected

Not all of the court's remaining cases directly involve Trump administration policies.

According to NPR, the Supreme Court is also expected to issue decisions on mail-in ballots, transgender athletes and several other high-profile legal disputes before the term concludes.

NBC News also reported that rulings are pending in cases involving election law and gun rights.

The upcoming decisions are expected to offer one of the clearest indications yet of how the Supreme Court's conservative majority views the limits of presidential authority during Trump's second term.

While the administration may secure victories in cases involving executive power and independent agencies, it could face setbacks on birthright citizenship and the Federal Reserve.

Liberal legal advocates, however, argue that even a ruling against Trump on birthright citizenship would not fundamentally change perceptions of the current court.

"I don't think a ruling against Trump in birthright citizenship is going to make a difference in terms of how the Roberts court is perceived," Elizabeth Wydra, president of the Constitutional Accountability Center, told NBC News.

"The Supreme Court simply not getting on the train to crazy town doesn't negate the fact they have turned back the clock on American progress toward multiracial democracy," she added.

Prakriti Deb is a journalist at Hindustan Times Digital, where she is part of the US Desk. She works on stories related to American politics, crime, sports, entertainment and weather. She particularly enjoys covering political developments that have global ripples. Through her work, she aims to break down complex events in a way that feels simple and understandable. Before joining the Hindustan Times, she worked with The Indian Express Digital, where she covered world affairs. She holds a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication with a specialisation in Journalism, along with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature. Outside the newsroom, Prakriti enjoys travelling and stepping out of her comfort zone. She finds her sense of being through storytelling in all its forms, including conversations, painting, theatre, dance and photography. She appreciates discussions that challenge her perspective and help her see the world a little differently.Read More