Michigan & Indiana Attorneys General react to SCOTUS ruling on birthright citizenship injunctions

South Bend, Ind. --  It was a busy day at the nation’s highest court, one that could set the tone for future legal battles over presidential powers and immigration policy. While many questions remain unanswered, today’s Supreme Court ruling is already stirring strong reactions across the country.

At the center of the case is an executive order signed by President Trump on his first day of office over birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court, however, did not rule on whether that order is constitutional. Instead, the justices focused on the authority of lower courts. Ruling that district courts do not have the power to issue universal injunctions, that block federal policies nationwide.

One expert telling ABC57 over the phone, that the court’s decision avoids weighing in on the legality of the policy itself.

Attorneys General in both Michigan and Indiana responded to the decision Friday.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat whose office was involved in the lawsuit, criticized the decision. She said in a statement that the ruling allows the executive order to stand in states that are either unwilling or afraid to challenge it. Nessel added that it opens the door for this president and future ones to ignore constitutional limits, warning, “The idea that our rights now depend on where we live is unconscionable.”

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Republican, praised the ruling in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He called it a victory for Trump’s agenda, writing, “More winning today! Proud to support President @realdonaldtrump in this case. Thankfully, it will now be way more difficult to block the MAGA agenda, which will not only benefit Indiana, but the entire nation.”

Despite the ruling, Trump’s birthright citizenship policy cannot take effect for at least 30 more days. That delay leaves room for additional legal challenges, and experts say it’s likely that new civil suits will emerge in the weeks ahead.