US Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship, impacting Ghanaian families
via GhanaWeb2 min read
The US Supreme Court has affirmed birthright citizenship in a 5-4 ruling, stating that children born in the United States to parents who are unlawfully or temporarily present are citizens at birth under the US Constitution. This decision, delivered on June 30, 2026, in the case of Trump, President of the United States, et al v. Barbara et al., is significant for immigrant families, including Ghanaians who travel to the US to give birth. The ruling ensures that children born in the country will continue to automatically receive US citizenship, regardless of their parents' immigration status. The case originated from an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, which argued that such children were not "subject to the jurisdiction" of the country. A district court had previously blocked enforcement of this order. The Supreme Court emphasized that the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment protects these children, drawing on English common law and rejecting the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Must ReadThe Supreme Court of Ghana has dismissed all four cases filed by former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Sackey Esaaba Torkornoo, which challenged her removal from office. This decision was announced by the Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai.
Must ReadSouth African opposition leader Julius Malema, head of the Economic Freedom Fighters Party, has strongly condemned anti-immigration protests in his country, labeling them "clownish and stupid." Speaking on Sky News, Malema asserted that these demonstrations are not xenophobia but rather "gangsterism sponsored by government" to divert attention from its failures. He claimed that corrupt individuals are exploiting foreign nationals. Malema also refuted allegations that foreign nationals, including Ghanaians and Nigerians, are responsible for a majority of crimes in South Africa. He stated that official records indicate South African men commit most crimes, including rape, and that foreign nationals are unfairly targeted. The protests, which occurred on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, saw anti-immigration groups demanding that "undocumented" African immigrants leave the country. During these events, Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the death of a Ghanaian man shot in Cape Town. Multiple reports indicate hundreds of arrests were made across South Africa for attacks and looting, with nearly 250 arrests in the Eastern Cape and 10 in Delft, Cape Town, related to shop looting. One person was also killed in Durban during a storage facility break-in, which police are investigating.
Must ReadA Nigerian national, Aderinsola Oluwanifemi Adeleye, has been arrested in Ghana in connection with an alleged Point of Sale POS fraud scheme. The scheme reportedly targeted foreign-issued bank cards at fuel stations in Accra. Adeleye, a cement block manufacturer residing in Oyarifa, is accused of using compromised United States bank cards for fraudulent transactions. The investigation began on June 25, 2026, after the manager of Haatso Shell Filling Station reported suspicious POS transactions, following a complaint from Ecobank Ghana PLC regarding unusual activity on two Citibank debit cards. Transactions were traced to POS terminals at Haatso Shell Filling Station and Osu Total Filling Station. Two fuel pump attendants were arrested and allegedly implicated Adeleye and an accomplice. Adeleye was arrested at Haatso Shell Filling Station on the same day, where authorities recovered a Beretta pistol with two rounds of 9mm ammunition and a Citibank Visa debit card. A subsequent search of his office at Katamanso uncovered 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition and an empty shell casing. Investigators also searched his residence, recovering electronic devices. The investigation suggests Adeleye invested the proceeds of the scheme in substantial assets, including a four-bedroom storey building, a cement block manufacturing factory, and a Nissan ZNA pickup vehicle. He has been formally charged and is awaiting court proceedings.