Trump renews push to narrow US birthright citizenship
Cgtn · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed two executive orders in the Oval Office to again try to restrict birthright citizenship after the Supreme Court ruled against his previous order. The new actions are narrower than the earlier attempt and focus on “birth tourism” and specific categories of parents whose U.S.-born children the administration says should not automatically receive citizenship .
Key Points
- Trump said the Supreme Court had issued a “very unfortunate decision” on birthright citizenship, prompting what he called administrative “adjustments” at the White House on August 6, 2026 .
- One executive order targets “birth tourism,” defined by the White House as foreigners entering on nonimmigrant visas to give birth in the United States .
- The second order broadens ineligibility categories, including children of foreign government employees, members of designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations, and parents accused of citizenship fraud .
- AP reported the written order also appeared to cover children born to adults tied to foreign embassies or organizations and anyone considered an “alien enemy” .
- Trump’s earlier January 20, 2025 order claimed children of people unlawfully or temporarily in the U.S. were not fully under U.S. jurisdiction, but lawsuits and lower-court rulings stopped it .
Why It Matters
The new orders reopen a constitutional and political battle over the 14th Amendment, which says all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction are citizens . Their practical effect remains uncertain, especially because visa fraud linked to birth tourism is already punishable and the latest orders are likely to face fresh court challenges .