Trump Signs Orders Targeting Birthright Citizenship and ‘Birth Tourism’

President Donald Trump signed two executive orders Thursday targeting birthright citizenship and so-called birth tourism. According to Fox News , Trump said his administration is taking a different approach after the…

Andrew PowellAug 7, 20263 min read

Birthright CitizenshipDonald TrumpExecutive OrderPoliticsU.S. News

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The administration says the orders are designed to narrow citizenship eligibility in specific circumstances and target people who travel to the United States specifically to give birth.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller said one order expands the categories of people the administration views as ineligible for Birthright Citizenship.

Miller specifically cited "alien enemies of the United States, members of foreign terrorist organizations, and large categories of people who lobby and act on behalf of foreign governments."

The second order takes aim at birth tourism, which refers to foreigners traveling to the United States to give birth with the expectation that their child will receive U.S. citizenship.

Miller described the directive as an effort "for the first time ever in American history to ban birth tourism."

He said the administration plans to deny visas to people seeking to enter the country specifically to have a child who would automatically become a U.S. citizen, as well as people who arrange such trips.

Miller cited Section 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, calling birth tourism "by definition, a fraud on the American system" and "a fraud against the American government."

Trump was asked how the administration intends to enforce the new measures.

"We're cracking down very big, very big, big crackdowns," Trump said. "This will give us the right to do it in a much more forceful manner."

The president also expressed confidence that the orders would survive expected legal challenges.

"I think it will," Trump said when asked whether the directives would withstand court scrutiny.

White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf said the administration is targeting organized birth tourism operations through visa restrictions and law enforcement while relying on what he described as "legally validated means" that do not conflict with the Supreme Court's ruling.