In a bold move on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship, a right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and upheld by the Supreme Court for over 125 years.
The order is part of a series of executive actions designed to overhaul U.S. immigration and border policies, many of which are anticipated to face substantial legal scrutiny.
During his inaugural address, Trump emphasized his commitment to national security, stating, “As commander in chief, I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions, and that is what I’m going to do.”
According to CBS News, the U.S. has long adhered to the interpretation of the Constitution that guarantees automatic citizenship to those born on American soil, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
This interpretation is rooted in the 14th Amendment, which reads: “All persons born or naturalised in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
However, Trump’s executive order directs federal agencies to halt the issuance of passports, citizenship certificates, and other official documents to children born in the U.S. to parents who are either undocumented or non-citizens.
The directive specifically targets children born to mothers in the U.S. illegally, fathers who are neither citizens nor legal residents, and mothers who hold temporary visas, with the exception not being retroactive.
The order mandates that federal agencies begin enforcing these changes within 30 days, but immediately after the announcement, organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed lawsuits in federal court, challenging the legality of the measure.
Additionally, Trump invoked sweeping presidential powers to suspend U.S. asylum laws, labeling the influx of migrants at the southern border as an “invasion” and a public health threat.
The executive order permits federal officials to “repel, repatriate, or remove” migrants, effectively allowing the government to stop enforcing asylum law until Trump declares the border situation has been resolved.