by Hannah Naljahih, MPS
Policy Fellow
July 30, 2026

For generations, New Mexico has been strengthened by immigrant families who have built businesses, raised children, and contributed to communities across our state. Yet recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions threaten the stability and security of many of those families. 

In recent weeks, the Court issued three major immigration-related decisions. One reaffirmed a fundamental constitutional principle: children born in the United States are U.S. citizens, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. But the other two decisions make it harder for immigrant families to find safety and security, putting thousands of lives and futures at risk. 

Bad news: The Court clears the way to end Temporary Protected Status

In Mullin v. Doe, the Supreme Court cleared the path for the current administration to move forward with ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians.

In New Mexico alone, approximately 1,025 people currently hold TPS, including individuals from Haiti and Syria. TPS has allowed people fleeing war, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises to live and work legally in the United States while rebuilding their lives in safety.

This decision doesn’t just affect Haitian and Syrian families. It sends a troubling message to all TPS holders who have spent years putting down roots, raising children, contributing to local economies, and becoming valued members of our communities. It reinforces the reality that hundreds of thousands of families can have their stability taken away based on changing political priorities.

Bad news: The Court limits access to asylum 

In Mullin v. Al Otro Lado, the Court ruled that the federal government’s practice of “metering” at ports of entry does not violate U.S. immigration law. The decision allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection to continue turning away asylum seekers at land ports of entry before they can physically enter the United States to request protection.

For people fleeing persecution, violence, or other life-threatening conditions, this decision creates yet another barrier to seeking safety. U.S. law recognizes the right to seek asylum, but this ruling makes that right increasingly difficult to access for thousands of vulnerable families arriving at our southern border.

Good news: The Court upholds birthright citizenship 

The Court also reaffirmed a cornerstone of the Constitution by upholding birthright citizenship, confirming that children born in the United States are U.S. citizens regardless of their parents’ immigration status.

This decision matters deeply in New Mexico, where an estimated 39,000 children live with at least one undocumented parent. By preserving birthright citizenship, the Court protected the rights of thousands of New Mexico children to fully belong in the only country many have ever known.

New Mexico must continue leading

These decisions are a reminder that while important protections remain in place, much more must be done to ensure immigrant families can live with dignity, safety, and stability.

New Mexico has the opportunity, and the responsibility, to continue leading by strengthening policies that protect immigrant children and families. Lawmakers can help eligible immigrants secure legal status by passing measures such as the U-VISA Certification Act. They can also ensure families have access to the essentials every child needs to thrive, including public education, health care, and state-supported nutrition programs.

Federal decisions may shape the national landscape, but they do not define who we are as New Mexicans.

Our state has long recognized that when immigrant families are safe, healthy, and able to thrive, our communities are stronger. Despite recent setbacks at the federal level, New Mexico can continue to be a place where immigrant families are welcomed, protected, and given the opportunity to build a better future.