Trump Signs New Executive Orders Targeting Birthright Citizenship

United States President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at limiting automatic birthright citizenship, reviving his administration’s efforts to tighten immigration rules and curb what it describes as “birth tourism.”

According to Reuters, the executive orders, signed on Thursday, target the practice of foreign nationals travelling to the United States to give birth so their children can automatically obtain American citizenship.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said the measures effectively end the practice.

According to the White House, the directives also seek to restrict automatic citizenship for children born in the United States to foreign government employees and certain other individuals. The proposals could also extend to people born in U.S. territories if Congress approves the necessary legislation.

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The latest action comes weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court, on June 30, struck down an earlier executive order issued by Trump that sought to deny citizenship to children born in the United States to parents who were either in the country illegally or on temporary visas.

Speaking at the White House, Trump criticised the court’s decision, describing it as:

“very unfortunate”

He said the new executive orders were intended to address what his administration considers abuses of the immigration system while complying with existing legal limits.

“The latest executive orders were intended to address abuses of the immigration system while remaining within the bounds of the law.”

The measures have, however, drawn criticism from immigration advocates and legal experts, who argue that they attempt to sidestep the Supreme Court’s ruling on birthright citizenship.

Birthright citizenship in the United States is protected under the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which grants citizenship to most people born on U.S. soil, with limited exceptions such as children of foreign diplomats.