Following SCOTUS ruling, Kentucky GOP leaders renew calls for constitutional amendment ending birthright citizenship

One of the more vocal Kentucky lawmakers on Capitol Hill on the issue — Sen. Rand Paul — took to social media to say he had a feeling that "an executive order was never going to be strong enough to permanently fix birthright citizenship."

Paul filed a constitutional amendment earlier this year that would formally ending birthright citizenship.

Following the high court ruling, the senator renewed his push for it, arguing children born to people who are in the U.S. illegally should not eventually have the right to vote.

"I think going through the states is our best chance. There are about 35 Republican states where this is pretty popular," Paul told Fox News. "I do think, as it's explained to people and people understand that people are breaking the law and their kids get to vote... most people who hear that are surprised but also upset that this is happening."

Congressman and GOP Senate candidate Andy Barr has also advocated for an amendment that would scrap birthright citizenship.

"We're a nation of immigrants, but we're also a nation of laws. We want legal immigration. We don't want illegal immigration that threatens our homeland," Barr told reporters in late 2025.

Meanwhile, Kentucky's lone Democrat in Washington, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, said the constitutional question isn't one that deserved the attention it got from the Supreme Court, writing: "If you’re born in the United States, you’re a citizen. Period. The Trump administration is going after the legal status of anyone they don’t deem worthy to live in this country, and the Supreme Court should’ve never entertained it for this long."