AJWS Releases a Statement on Last Slate of U.S. Supreme Court Decisions
New York, N.Y. (July 1, 2026) — At the conclusion of a disruptive season of decisions by the Supreme Court, American Jewish World Service (AJWS) welcomes yesterday’s ruling preserving birthright citizenship, a Constitutional right that has defined our nation’s promise for more than 150 years. At a moment when fundamental human rights are under assault by the federal government, this ruling offers some measure of reassurance that a majority of the Court still recognizes the primacy of the 14th Amendment.
We are concerned, however, by the alarming direction of other recent Supreme Court rulings, decisions with the potential to chip away at the bedrock of democracy on which this country was built and abandon a legacy of defending human rights at home and abroad.
From the unprecedented expansion of presidential powers to the termination of Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of people from Haiti and Syria, these decisions weaken democratic norms, diminish governmental accountability, and trample the basic human rights of some of this country’s—and in turn—the world’s most vulnerable people.
As an organization guided by Jewish values of justice, AJWS knows that a fair and impartial justice system is the bedrock of a healthy society. The Torah specifically commands: “You shall appoint magistrates and officials for yourself within all your gates… and they shall govern the people with due justice. You shall not judge unfairly” (Deuteronomy 16:18-19).
AJWS, which supports nearly 500 social change organizations around the world fighting to combat injustice in all its forms, has stood alongside these groups. In our partnerships with them, we have seen democracy dismantled one institution at a time: By suppressing protests. By shuttering civil society. By consolidating executive power. By normalizing oppression.
We know where this road can lead.
The Supreme Court’s affirmation of birthright citizenship is an important reminder that Constitutional protections must endure. It must also be a call to vigilance and continued defense of the rule of law for all people. At AJWS, we remain committed to defending marginalized communities and advocating for U.S. foreign policies that advance fairness and equality for all.
For More Information
If you are a member of the press and wish to obtain information about our work or speak to a member of our global team on deadline, please contact Tanyanika Davis, Director of Media Relations, at tdavis@ajws.org.