Trump Signs Draconian Executive Orders Attacking Birthright Citizenship and Targeting Immigrant Families
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President Donald Trump has issued two controversial executive orders that further erode the constitutional right to citizenship for children of certain non-citizen parents and criminalize birth tourism, continuing his administration’s relentless assault on immigrant communities and the 14th Amendment.
President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Thursday, escalating his administration’s campaign against immigrant rights by narrowing the scope of birthright citizenship and criminalizing birth tourism. The first order expands the categories of non-citizens whose children are denied automatic citizenship, specifically targeting babies born to parents associated with foreign terrorist groups, foreign government employees, those accused of fraudulent naturalization, or residents of U.S. territories where citizenship is not federally granted. The second order bans pregnant women from traveling to the United States solely to give birth, a move widely seen as an attack on immigrant families seeking a better future for their children.
Trump justified these measures by claiming they address a so-called 'problem' that previous administrations failed to confront, and lashed out at the Supreme Court for upholding birthright citizenship. "This should have happened years ago, but we're taking care of it now," he declared from the Oval Office, disregarding the constitutional protections enshrined in the 14th Amendment.
White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, notorious for his anti-immigrant agenda, described birth tourism as a 'scheme' to gain citizenship and access to welfare and voting rights, perpetuating harmful stereotypes about immigrants. Miller insisted that the president has the authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to restrict entry for such purposes, despite widespread legal and ethical concerns.
The Migration Policy Institute estimates that 22,000 to 26,000 babies are born each year through birth tourism, though government data for 2024 recorded only 9,600 such births. Legal experts, including UC Davis law professor Gabriel Chin, have pointed out that while the administration may have limited power to restrict entry, the 14th Amendment clearly protects the right to citizenship for anyone born on U.S. soil. Chin noted that some parts of the order may survive legal challenges, but others raise grave constitutional issues, highlighting the administration’s disregard for fundamental rights.