Supreme Court Reins in Rogue Judges in Historic Trump v. CASA Ruling

Washington D.C.— Today, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a historic victory for the Trump Administration and constitutional governance in Trump v. CASA, ruling that universal injunctions exceed the equitable authority granted to federal courts by Congress. The decision narrows injunctions previously issued by district courts in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington, which had halted President Trump’s day one Executive Order on birthright citizenship nationwide. This ruling significantly limits judicial overreach, reinforcing the appropriate balance of power among the branches of government and clarifying that federal courts may only grant relief necessary to redress the specific plaintiffs' injuries.

In its opinion, the Supreme Court declared, “federal courts do not exercise general oversight of the Executive Branch; they resolve cases and controversies consistent with the authority Congress has given them. When a court concludes that the Executive Branch has acted unlawfully, the answer is not for the court to exceed its power, too.” The ruling allows federal courts to provide complete relief to individual plaintiffs without halting policies nationwide, thereby restoring the equilibrium between our branches of government.

The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) hails the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. CASA as a historic victory for the Constitution and for the American people. This ruling reaffirms a core principle: the executive branch, elected to serve the nation’s interests, holds the authority to enact or change federal policy—not unelected district court judges. By striking down universal injunctions, the Court has dismantled a dangerous practice that allowed individual courts to halt executive actions nationwide, undermining the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution.

Jessica Hart Steinmann, Executive General Counsel, praised the ruling: “the Supreme Court's decision in Trump v. CASA is a monumental victory for the rule of law and the separation of powers. For too long, activist judges have exploited universal injunctions to obstruct this Administration. This ruling ends that era of judicial overreach. It’s a triumph for governance that prioritizes the will of the American people over the whims of individual courts, empowering the President to act decisively for all Americans.”

Chad Wolf, Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer & Chair of Homeland Security & Immigration, echoed this sentiment: "the days of activist judges using universal injunctions to obstruct the President’s ability to secure our borders and enforce immigration laws are over. Today’s ruling ensures that one unelected judge in Maryland can’t dictate national policy. This victory strengthens our constitutional system and empowers the executive to fulfill its promises to the American people."

This ruling aligns with AFPI’s mission to combat judicial overreach and promote policies that put America first. It significantly curtails the troubling trend of district judges acting as “super-legislators,” issuing sweeping injunctions that improperly block executive actions nationwide. With the Court clarifying that universal injunctions exceed federal courts' authority, today's decision allows the Trump Administration to pursue its America First agenda without undue interference from individual courts exceeding their constitutional role.