Donald Trump is making a renewed effort to restrict birthright citizenship in the United States, following a Supreme Court ruling that blocked his previous attempt. The president introduced two executive orders on Thursday intended to narrow the criteria for automatic citizenship at birth.
One directive targets “birth tourism,” the practice of foreign nationals traveling to the US specifically to deliver children who then receive automatic citizenship. The second order revises the definitions of non-citizens whose offspring are ineligible for such status. These restrictions specifically apply to children born to parents who are foreign government employees, members of terrorist organizations, individuals who secured legal entry through fraud, or those living in jurisdictions where citizenship is not granted by statute.
While Trump claimed that birth tourism accounts for hundreds of thousands of annual births, data from the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute suggests the number is significantly lower, estimating roughly 22,000 to 26,000 cases annually. White House advisor Stephen Miller stated the administration is utilizing provisions within the Immigration and Nationality Act to justify these limits, arguing that birthright citizenship is being exploited to gain improper access to American benefits and voting rights.
This initiative follows a significant legal setback in June 2025, when the Supreme Court invalidated an earlier executive order by Trump that attempted to override the 14th Amendment. During the announcement, the president labeled that judicial decision unfair and expressed his intent to circumvent those limitations through these new measures.
