Trump signs new executive orders to restrict birthright citizenship

US President Donald Trump has signed two new executive orders aimed at narrowing eligibility for birthright citizenship, reviving one of his administration's most contentious immigration policies despite the US Supreme Court previously striking down a similar measure as unconstitutional.

Signed on Thursday (August 6), the orders represent the latest effort by the Trump administration to reinterpret the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, which guarantees citizenship to most individuals born on American soil.

The White House argues that the new directives are not a reissue of the earlier order, but instead rely on a fresh interpretation of long-standing legal exceptions to limit who qualifies for automatic citizenship at birth.

A central objective of the policy is to curb so-called "birth tourism"—the practice of foreign nationals travelling to the United States to give birth so their children automatically acquire US citizenship.

The executive orders also seek to restrict birthright citizenship for children born to individuals classified under US law as "alien enemies," a designation applied to nationals of hostile states under specific legal circumstances.

Speaking at the Oval Office signing ceremony, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said the measures would effectively end birth tourism immediately upon implementation.

The move is expected to trigger another major legal battle. The US Supreme Court previously ruled that an executive order cannot override constitutional protections guaranteeing birthright citizenship, forcing the administration's earlier attempt to be withdrawn. Although Trump later urged Congress to pursue legislative changes, his administration has once again opted to advance the policy through executive action.

According to a 2020 analysis by the Center for Immigration Studies, an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 pregnant foreign nationals travelled to the United States to give birth during the 2016–17 period. By comparison, the US recorded approximately 3.6 million births in 2025.