Relief, disappointment in Chicago after SCOTUS upholds birthright citizenship, trans athlete ban

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two major U.S. Supreme Court rulings drew sharply different reactions from Chicago residents on a day that delivered both a legal victory and a setback for President Donald Trump.

The court upheld birthright citizenship in a 6-3 decision, rejecting an executive order from Trump that sought to deny citizenship to children born in the United States to undocumented parents. At the same time, the court ruled 6-3 to allow states to bar transgender female athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports teams.

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For Jocelyn Aranda Ortiz, who was born in the United States to undocumented mother, the citizenship ruling brought relief.

"She always says you have these opportunities where you don't have to find the door that's going to let you in, like your doors are open," Aranda Ortiz said.

Aranda Ortiz said she has taken advantage of that opportunity, earning bachelor's and master's degrees and now working to support other immigrants at the Resurrection Project.

Legal advocates say the court's decision reinforces a long-standing constitutional principle grounded in the 14th Amendment.

"The court's ruling today said that the Constitution not the President decides who's a citizen of the United States," said Colleen Connell, executive director of the ACLU of Illinois.

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Connell noted that birthright citizenship has deep historical roots that predate the 14th Amendment, though the amendment formally codified the practice. She and other experts expressed surprise that three justices dissented in the ruling.

Despite the decision, Aranda Ortiz said concerns about future challenges remain.

"It's absolutely scary that we have to live in a world where we have to keep watching our back," she said.

Trump criticized the ruling on birthright citizenship, calling it "too bad," but praised the court's decision allowing states to restrict transgender athletes' participation in girls' and women's sports.

That ruling disappointed Patti Flynn, a Chicago-area transgender athlete who competes in track, cycling and triathlons.

"Believe it or not, merely being trans doesn't make one good at sport I can attest to that. I am a mediocre athlete," Flynn said.

The decision does not affect Illinois, which has protections in place for transgender students and athletes. However, Flynn said the ruling could still have consequences in club sports and adult leagues, where she said exclusion has already occurred.

"You know, it happened a couple weeks right before my season started, and I just, I lost touch with my community at a time when I really needed it the most," Flynn said.

Flynn said participation in sports is about more than competition, emphasizing discipline and the relationships built through athletics.

Meanwhile, the path for ending birthright citizenship would require a constitutional amendment, a process widely considered unlikely.