President Donald Trump has signed two new executive orders aimed at restricting birthright citizenship, reviving an effort that was recently blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court. One order expands the categories of non-citizens whose children would not automatically receive U.S. citizenship, while the other targets “birth tourism” by preventing pregnant women from entering the country solely to give birth.
The administration argues the measures are intended to stop abuse of the immigration system and prevent foreign nationals from using birthright citizenship to gain long-term benefits. However, legal experts say the new orders are likely to face fresh court challenges, particularly because the Constitution guarantees citizenship to most people born on U.S. soil under the 14th Amendment.
Critics also question the scale of the issue, noting that birth tourism accounts for only a small fraction of U.S. births each year. While the president has authority to regulate entry into the country, constitutional scholars argue he cannot deny citizenship to children born in the United States if they are protected by existing law.
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