Supreme Court to rule on birthright citizenship, agency removals and other Trump-era cases

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to issue rulings on eight pending cases this week, covering issues ranging from birthright citizenship to the president's power to dismiss officials of independent agencies. Among the cases are challenges to President Donald Trump’s attempts to limit citizenship for children born to undocumented parents, to fire heads of most independent agencies at will, and to remove a sitting Federal Reserve governor.

The justices will also consider lawsuits from West Virginia and Idaho that seek to uphold state bans on transgender girls and women competing in public school and college sports. Two election-related disputes remain, involving state rules that allow a grace period for mailed ballots and limits on political party spending for congressional and presidential candidates.

A separate case concerns the legality of geofence warrants that track cellphone location data near crime scenes, which critics argue infringe on civil liberties.

The Court’s conservative majority has so far been receptive to Trump’s immigration policies, recently permitting the administration to end temporary protections for refugees displaced by war or disaster. During April arguments, the justices indicated a more skeptical stance toward the executive order that would overturn the longstanding principle of birthright citizenship.

The Court previously rejected Trump’s claim that he could unilaterally impose broad tariffs under an emergency powers statute. A longstanding dispute over the president’s authority to fire independent agency officials, argued in December, could overturn a 91-year-old precedent that required cause for such removals. Although lower courts found recent firings illegal, the conservative justices have allowed them to stand while the case proceeds.

The justices appeared less inclined to endorse Trump’s effort to immediately dismiss Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, who denies allegations of mortgage fraud; no president has ever removed a Fed governor in the agency’s 112-year history.

By tradition, the Court aims to complete its term before July 4, with its next public session scheduled for the first Monday in October.