Trump signs new orders targeting birthright citizenship and ‘birth tourism’

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump signed two executive orders targeting birthright citizenship and "birth tourism," seeking to restrict automatic citizenship after his initial policy was overturned by the Supreme Court. Trump criticized the June 30 ruling as "very unfortunate," alleging that wealthy foreigners were exploiting the system to secure US citizenship for their children.

The first order directs federal agencies not to recognize US citizenship for certain US-born children when neither parent is an American citizen, covering those with parents classified as "alien enemies" or foreign government employees. The second order targets "birth tourism," defining it as entering the US on a non-immigrant visa for the purpose of giving birth.

Measures may include denying or revoking visas, barring entry, and removing those found to have engaged in the practice. The orders aim to deny citizenship in certain cases and expand enforcement against companies and individuals facilitating the travel. Trump claims that "hundreds of thousands" of people have taken advantage of birth tourism, though no evidence was provided.

The measures test the scope of the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to those born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction.