Supreme Court Limits Presidential Power on Tariffs and Birthright Citizenship

The Supreme Court ruled against two of President Trump's major policy initiatives this term. Justices struck down worldwide tariffs, holding that import taxes require congressional approval rather than unilateral presidential action. The court also invalidated an executive order that would have ended birthright citizenship, with Roberts writing that the Constitution establishes citizenship for those born in the United States.

The court ruled that the president may replace top appointees at semi-independent agencies. It also held that the administration may end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians. In a separate 5-4 decision, the court affirmed the independence of the Federal Reserve and blocked the removal of one governor.

Roberts assembled different coalitions across the cases. Three liberal justices dissented from rulings allowing the end of protected status and agency leadership changes. Conservative justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. dissented from the tariff and citizenship decisions, with Neil M.

Gorsuch joining two of those dissents. The court also limited police use of cellphone data to locate suspects in a 5-4 ruling. On the term's final day, Roberts issued a 26-page opinion tracing the history of birthright citizenship from English common law through the 14th Amendment.

Thomas filed a 91-page dissent arguing that parents must be domiciled in the country, while Alito filed a 39-page opinion calling the majority view a serious mistake.