Trump signs order targeting birth tourism

President Donald Trump has again attempted to restrict birthright citizenship by signing an executive order targeting individuals he claims enter the U.S. under the guise of tourism with the intent to give birth. Trump stated that "they've taken birthright citizenship, and they've made a joke out of it." This follows a previous effort that was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

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They’ve taken birthright citizenship, and they’ve made a joke out of it.

Stephen Miller, a close advisor to Trump, explained that the order also aims to deny birthright citizenship to children of "foreign terrorist organizations" and those acting on behalf of foreign governments. Miller asserted that the order "ensures that large numbers of people who wrongly (would) be getting birthright citizenship will no longer be eligible for those benefits."

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We’re making adjustments because it’s very unfair.

Lower courts had previously blocked a similar executive order, ruling that the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants citizenship to nearly everyone born on U.S. soil. The Supreme Court concurred with this interpretation. The 14th Amendment states, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States." While the amendment does not apply to individuals not subject to U.S. jurisdiction, such as foreign diplomats' children, U.S. law already allows for visa denial if an applicant's primary purpose is to give birth in the country.

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This ensures that large numbers of people who wrongly (would) be getting birthright citizenship will no longer be eligible for those benefits.

The Trump administration had argued that the 14th Amendment, enacted after the Civil War, was intended for former slaves and not for children of undocumented migrants or visitors. The previous executive order was based on the premise that individuals in the U.S. illegally or on a visa are not "subject to the jurisdiction" of the country. These efforts are part of Trump's broader immigration agenda, which includes expelling undocumented migrants and revoking deportation protections for nationals of several countries.

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All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.