YWCA USA Statement in Response to Supreme Court Rulings on Birthright Citizenship and Transgender Student Athletes
Today, the Supreme Court handed down two consequential decisions affecting the people and communities YWCA serves. We welcome the Court's decision to uphold birthright citizenship as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment — affirming what generations of Americans have understood to be true: if you are born in the United States, you belong here. At the same time, we are deeply disappointed by the Court's decision allowing states to bar transgender students from school athletics. This ruling undermines the principle that everyone in this country deserves to belong and the freedom to thrive, and that sacrifices the dignity, privacy, and safety of America's young women and girls.
The birthright citizenship ruling reinforces a core democratic principle: rights guaranteed by the Constitution should not depend on a person’s race or family background. The Fourteenth Amendment was designed to affirm citizenship and equal protection under the law. Its promise remains unchanged — every child born on American soil deserves dignity, belonging, and the protections of citizenship. A person’s immigration status does not diminish their humanity or their right to safety.
“For families across the country, this decision means security, stability, and peace of mind. It means parents do not have to live with the fear that a child born on American soil could be denied the protections and belonging citizenship provides. These questions are not distant or hypothetical,” said Margaret Mitchell, CEO of YWCA USA. “They affect real families, real children, and communities in every corner of the country — including the communities YWCA serves.” Today’s decision protects millions of children and families from the threat of statelessness and second-class status.
Strong families require stable foundations. When women and children live free from the threat of statelessness or exclusion, they are better positioned to thrive — to access education, healthcare, and economic opportunity. That is the America YWCA fights for every day, and it is the America this ruling helps preserve.
YWCA USA is an independent, nonpartisan organization that has served communities across the country for more than 167 years. YWCA remains committed to advancing peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people, and we will continue to advocate for policies that ensure every person—regardless of identity—can live, learn, and grow in safe and supportive environments.