Topic overview
In brief
- President Donald Trump signed two executive orders to limit birthright citizenship, following a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the practice.
- The orders aim to expand exceptions to birthright citizenship and address the issue of 'birth tourism.'
- Legal challenges are expected against these new orders, as they attempt to navigate around the Supreme Court's decision.
Summary
In the United States, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders aimed at limiting birthright citizenship, a move that follows a Supreme Court ruling which upheld the practice as protected under the Constitution. The orders were signed on a Thursday, just weeks after the Supreme Court rejected Trump's previous attempt to restrict birthright citizenship, which grants citizenship to nearly all children born on U.S. soil. The new orders are narrower in scope and seek to expand exceptions to birthright citizenship, particularly for children of foreign diplomats and those involved in 'birth tourism.'
The first order aims to clarify the exceptions to birthright citizenship, specifically targeting children born to foreign diplomats or those classified as 'alien enemies.' The second order addresses 'birth tourism,' which refers to the practice of foreign nationals traveling to the U.S. to give birth, thereby securing citizenship for their children. Trump has characterized this practice as problematic, claiming it allows individuals to exploit the system for citizenship.