US President Trump signs new orders to limit birthright citizenship
Trump Issues Fresh Executive Directives to Restrict Birthright Citizenship
Bharatmorningnews.com – Washington — President Donald Trump has enacted two new executive orders designed to curb birth tourism and narrow the scope of individuals qualifying for birthright citizenship. These measures arrive shortly after the Supreme Court invalidated his earlier attempt to modify the longstanding policy.
One of the directives, signed on Thursday, focuses specifically on commercial birth tourism by restricting access for those involved in such practices. The second order broadens the categories of individuals deemed ineligible for birthright citizenship, including children whose parents lobby for foreign governments.
Supreme Court Reversal and Presidential Response
On June 30, the nation’s highest court overturned Trump’s previous executive order, upholding the century-old principle that nearly everyone born within U.S. borders automatically becomes a citizen. Following the signing ceremony in the Oval Office, Trump criticized the Court’s ruling while emphasizing that his new approach represents necessary adjustments.
“We had a very unfortunate decision in the Supreme Court concerning birthright, it was close, but a very, very unfortunate decision. So we’re making adjustments,” the president explained to reporters.
Trump was accompanied by several senior officials during the event: White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf.
Historical Context and Current Concerns
The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified on July 9, 1868, established citizenship for all individuals born or naturalized within the United States, including formerly enslaved people. Trump drew connections between the amendment’s original purpose and contemporary issues.
“This was done right after the Civil War. This was for the babies of slaves, and what’s happening now? People are building businesses around it,” Trump remarked.
Miller, widely recognized as the principal architect of Trump’s immigration policies, highlighted concerns about individuals entering the country under false pretenses. He noted that many arrive claiming to be tourists while their actual objective is to give birth and secure automatic citizenship for their children.
“It gives them access, under this broken system, to welfare benefits, ultimately to the voting booth, and all the other rights and privileges that belong solely to Americans,” Miller stated.
New Eligibility Restrictions
One of the executive orders identifies multiple categories of individuals who should not receive citizenship documentation. These include children born to parents who participated in commercial arrangements ensuring the mother’s presence in the United States or its territories for childbirth purposes.
Additional restrictions apply to children of terrorist organization members, offspring of foreign government employees, and those born in U.S. territories where federal law does not automatically confer citizenship.
Expert Criticism and Legal Challenges
Immigration specialists have strongly opposed the new directives, arguing they conflict with constitutional provisions. Cyrus Mehta, a New York-based immigration attorney, voiced concerns on social media platform X regarding the vagueness of key terms.
“Trump’s new EO on birthright citizenship is also blatantly unconstitutional when it precludes citizenship if the parents of the person engages in a commercial transaction to ensure that the person’s mother is present in the United States, or a territory of the United States to give birth,” Mehta wrote.
“The meaning of commercial transaction is too vague and violates the 14th Amendment. It should be struck down,” he added.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, the most comprehensive census-based estimates suggest between 22,000 and 26,000 babies are born annually to birth tourists on U.S. soil. However, official government records indicate only 9,600 births occurred in 2024 to mothers with foreign addresses.
The American Civil Liberties Union issued a statement reinforcing the constitutional protection of birthright citizenship.
“The Supreme Court already decided this issue: Birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the Constitution. Any executive order that tries to attack birthright citizenship will meet the same fate as President Trump’s last one,” the organization declared.
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