U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign two executive orders on Thursday targeting birth tourism and birthright citizenship, Axios reported. Trump also seeks to deny citizenship to children born to certain foreign diplomatic staff members in the United States and potentially in U.S. territories in the future.
The action marks Trump's second attempt to restrict birthright citizenship guaranteed under the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to nearly everyone born on U.S. soil. On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down an order Trump signed on his inauguration day that aimed to deny automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents. The Trump administration maintains that the ruling still allows executive authority to limit birthright citizenship based on exceptions recognized by the court, though the new orders are expected to face legal challenges.
In addition, Trump will demand compensation from hostile countries before allowing them to use the Straits.
Four Categories of Future Births
If signed by the president, the new orders would apply only to future births that fall into four specific categories. The first category covers children born to non-citizen foreign diplomatic staff working for another government, expanding an exception that currently applies to families of ambassadors.
The second category applies to children of individuals designated as alien enemies, including members of federally designated terrorist groups. A third category covers people born in U.S. territories, primarily Puerto Rico, though this would only take effect if Congress amends existing law. A bill was introduced last month to eliminate automatic citizenship in U.S. overseas possessions, but it is not expected to pass.
The fourth category targets children born to mothers who enter the United States for the sole purpose of giving birth at a birth tourism center. The order also seeks to restrict the use of surrogate mothers for the same purpose.
