Trump signs order targeting ‘birth tourism’
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting "birth tourism" and individuals seeking citizenship through birth in the country.
- The order aims to restrict birthright citizenship for children of "foreign terrorist organizations" and those acting for foreign governments.
- This move follows a Supreme Court ruling that struck down Trump's previous attempt to limit birthright citizenship based on the 14th Amendment.
U.S. President Donald Trump has again sought to curb birthright citizenship by signing an executive order aimed at those he claims enter the country under the guise of tourism with the intention of giving birth.
They’ve taken birthright citizenship and they’ve made a joke out of it.
"They’ve taken birthright citizenship and they’ve made a joke out of it," Trump told journalists. He described the Supreme Court's late June ruling, which rejected his prior effort to restrict this constitutionally granted right, as "very unfortunate" and stated, "We’re making adjustments because it’s very unfair."
According to Stephen Miller, a close advisor to Trump, the new order also intends to deny birthright citizenship to children of "foreign terrorist organizations" and "large categories of people who lobby and act on behalf of foreign governments." Miller added that the move "ensures that large numbers of people who wrongly (would) be getting birthright citizenship will no longer be eligible for those benefits."
We’re making adjustments because it’s very unfair.
Last year, the Trump administration issued an executive order decreeing that children born to parents in the United States illegally or on temporary visas would not automatically become U.S. citizens. Lower courts blocked this order, citing the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment, which states that nearly everyone born on U.S. soil is an American citizen. The Supreme Court concurred in a majority opinion, affirming that the amendment applies to "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof." The amendment does not apply to individuals not subject to U.S. jurisdiction, such as children of foreign diplomats. Under existing U.S. law, visas can already be denied if an applicant's primary purpose for travel is to give birth. Trump's efforts are part of a broader campaign to limit immigration.
ensures that large numbers of people who wrongly (would) be getting birthright citizenship will no longer be eligible for those benefits.
Originally published by Jamaica Observer. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.