Trump Signs Fresh Orders on Birthright Citizenship After Court Setback
President Donald Trump signed two new executive orders on Thursday aimed at limiting birthright citizenship in a narrower approach following a recent Supreme Court defeat. The White House declared that birth tourism is now banned under these directives, which target practices where pregnant foreigners travel to the United States specifically to give birth and secure citizenship for their children.
The orders also restrict citizenship rights for children born to foreign government employees in the US and those classified as alien enemies. Officials argue these measures reinterpret historical exceptions to the 14th Amendment without directly conflicting with the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling. That June decision had struck down a broader previous order that sought to deny citizenship to children of immigrants in the country illegally or temporarily.
White House aide Stephen Miller stated at the Oval Office signing that the practice of birth tourism is hereby banned as of the order’s signing. Trump called the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling a very unfortunate decision and criticized businesses built around the practice. He noted that the 14th Amendment was originally intended for the babies of slaves after the Civil War and questioned its modern application.
Estimates from the Centre for Immigration Studies suggest between 20,000 and 25,000 mothers engaged in birth tourism during a 2016-2017 period. With 3.6 million total births in the US in 2025, the administration views the issue as significant. Critics, including immigrant advocates and the ACLU, argue the new orders attempt to evade the high court’s clear affirmation of constitutional citizenship guarantees that have stood for more than 150 years.
Legal experts remain uncertain about the practical effect given the prior ruling, and challenges are expected. Trump has previously urged Congress to act legislatively, but these executive actions set policy without the full force of law. The moves continue the administration’s focus on immigration enforcement while navigating constitutional boundaries established by the Supreme Court.
