Trump again tries to limit US birthright citizenship with new executive orders

August 7, 2026

Following the Supreme Court's June rejection of his initial attempt to eliminate birthright citizenship, President Trump has signed two new executive orders aimed at limiting the practice through narrower means. The first order denies automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. when both parents are non-citizens meeting specific criteria, such as being foreign government employees, terrorist group members, or having committed immigration fraud. The second order prohibits birth tourism, where pregnant women travel to America specifically to give birth and secure citizenship for their babies.

Who is affected

Children born in the U.S. to two non-citizen parents who meet specific criteria (foreign government employees, terrorist group members, those attempting fraudulent citizenship, or residents of certain U.S. territories)
Pregnant foreign nationals attempting to enter the U.S. for birth tourism purposes
People born in U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico
Russian and Chinese nationals specifically mentioned as adversaries allegedly exploiting birthright citizenship
Donald Trump and his administration

What action is being taken

Trump is signing two executive orders on Thursday
The first order is expanding definitions of non-citizens whose children are ineligible for birthright citizenship
The second order is banning birth tourism
Miller and Trump are announcing these orders from the Oval Office

Why it matters

This represents a continued effort to reshape U.S. immigration policy and limit who can become American citizens, challenging a 150-year-old constitutional interpretation. The orders could affect tens of thousands of births annually and raise serious constitutional questions about presidential authority to override the 14th Amendment's birthright citizenship guarantee. The issue tests the boundaries between executive power and constitutional rights, particularly following the Supreme Court's recent ruling against Trump's broader attempt to end birthright citizenship entirely.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC