US President Donald Trump has signed two new executive orders aimed at changing how birthright citizenship is handled in the United States and reducing birth tourism. The announcement was made at the White House, where Trump said he was unhappy with a recent Supreme Court decision that he believed was unfair.
The first executive order asks government agencies to identify children of foreign nationals who may not qualify for automatic US citizenship under the limited exceptions recognized by the courts. The administration says the goal is to ensure that citizenship rules are applied according to the law.
The second executive order targets birth tourism. Birth tourism is the practice of foreign nationals traveling to the United States mainly so their children can be born there and receive US citizenship. Under the order, the US State Department and the Department of Homeland Security have been instructed to take stronger steps to prevent and investigate this practice.
The executive orders come after the US Supreme Court issued a ruling in June related to birthright citizenship. The Court held that children born in the United States to parents who are temporarily in the country or are living there unlawfully are still entitled to automatic US citizenship under the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Trump criticized the ruling and said he believes changes are needed to prevent misuse of the immigration system. However, legal experts say the Constitution provides strong protections for birthright citizenship, and any major changes could face further legal challenges in the courts.
The new executive orders have already sparked debate across the country. Supporters say the measures will help strengthen immigration enforcement and reduce abuse of the system. Critics argue that birthright citizenship is protected by the Constitution and that the orders may face legal obstacles before they can be fully implemented.
The issue of birthright citizenship has been a major topic in US politics for several years. The latest actions by the Trump administration are expected to lead to more court cases and public debate over immigration policy and constitutional rights.