Trump Unleashes New Executive Orders to Tighten Birthright Citizenship
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Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Thursday that aim to curtail birthright citizenship in the United States, a move that follows the Supreme Court’s recent dismissal of his earlier attempt to eliminate the policy.
The first order expands the list of parents whose children will not automatically receive U.S. citizenship at birth. It now includes parents who are members of foreign terrorist groups, foreign government officials, or individuals who have attempted to acquire citizenship through fraud. It also removes citizenship eligibility for children born to parents living in U.S. territories where federal law does not grant citizenship.
The second order prohibits “birth tourism,” the practice of mothers traveling to the United States solely to give birth and acquire citizenship for their children. Trump called it a “malign” strategy that allows foreign actors to infiltrate the country and gain access to services and rights.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the administration was finally addressing the issue and decried the Supreme Court’s June ruling as “very unfair.” He added that, “hundreds of thousands of babies have been born through birth tourism in the U.S.”
The orders highlight concerns about national security and demographic influence. Stephen Miller, a White House deputy chief of staff for policy, reiterated the administration’s stance that foreign nationals seeking citizenship through birth tourism ultimately benefit U.S. welfare and voting systems.
Legal experts, however, question the constitutionality of these measures. Professor Gabriel Chin from UC Davis Law School noted that while the president may restrict entry for a birth‑tourist purpose, any child born on U.S. soil remains a citizen under the 14th Amendment.
Critics argue that the new orders address a marginal demographic phenomenon, with the Migration Policy Institute estimating only 22,000 to 26,000 “birth‑tourism” births annually.
As Trump’s administration continues its approach to citizenship policy, the legal battle over birthright rights is set to resume, reflecting the ongoing clash between executive ambition and constitutional safeguards.
