Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Trump signs executive orders restricting birthright citizenship, banning 'birth tourism'
President Trump, the leader of the United States, signed two new official orders called executive orders.
The orders decide who becomes an American citizen just by being born in the country.
The Constitution normally says almost every baby born on American soil is a citizen.
The Supreme Court, the country's highest court, recently agreed with that rule.
The president disagreed with the court and said the rule is unfair.
He wants to stop some children from becoming citizens, such as children of foreign government workers.
He also wants to stop 'birth tourism,' when pregnant travelers visit the US mainly to have their baby there.
India and China are often named among the top countries linked to this practice.
Several legal groups say the president's orders break the Constitution.
They are preparing to challenge the orders in court.
President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Thursday, August 6, restricting eligibility for birthright citizenship and banning 'birth tourism.'
The orders come about five weeks after the US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, rejected his earlier executive order on June 30.
One order expands who is ineligible for automatic citizenship, including children of foreign government employees, members of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, 'alien enemies,' and parents who obtained citizenship through fraud.
The second order targets 'birth tourism,' tightening visa scrutiny on foreigners traveling to the US primarily to give birth, which White House aide Stephen Miller declared 'hereby banned.'
The American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups say the orders violate the 14th Amendment and plan to challenge them in court.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, facing opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union and other legal groups.
- What
- Signed two executive orders restricting eligibility for birthright citizenship and targeting 'birth tourism.'
- When
- Thursday, August 6, about five weeks after the Supreme Court's June 30 ruling against his earlier order.
- Where
- The Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, United States.
- Why
- Trump says birthright citizenship is being exploited and is 'very unfair,' and the administration aims to narrow categories outside the exact scope of the Supreme Court ruling.
Critics and legal challengers
Trump administration
Legality of the executive orders
Critics and legal challengers
The ACLU and immigrant rights groups say the 14th Amendment unambiguously guarantees birthright citizenship and no executive order can override it, so the new orders are bound to fail in court.
Trump administration
The administration argues the new orders target narrower, historically debated exceptions that fall outside the exact scope of what the Supreme Court struck down, and can therefore survive legal challenges.
Scale of birth tourism
Critics and legal challengers
The Migration Policy Institute estimates birth tourism involves 22,000-26,000 babies a year, with 2024 government data showing 9,600 births to mothers with foreign addresses - under 1 percent of US births; the Center for Immigration Studies estimated 20,000-25,000 mothers a year.
Trump administration
Trump claims 'hundreds of thousands' of people practice birth tourism and says people are building businesses around buying their way into citizenship.
- Action
- Two executive orders narrowing birthright citizenship and banning 'birth tourism'
- Date signed
- Thursday, August 6, 2026
- Supreme Court ruling
- June 30, 6-3 vote rejecting Trump's first birthright citizenship executive order
- Original executive order
- Signed January 20, 2025; blocked by lower courts and never took effect
- Migration Policy Institute estimate
- 22,000-26,000 birth tourism babies annually, under 1 percent of US births
- 2024 government data
- 9,600 births to mothers with foreign addresses
- 14th Amendment
- Ratified in 1868; grants citizenship to all persons born in the United States
- Expected legal challenges
- The ACLU and other advocacy groups plan to challenge the orders in court
Sources
Born in the USA? Trump targets 'birth tourism' with new birthright citizenship executive order
Trump signs 2 executive orders curbing birthright citizenship, effectively ending 'birth tourism'
Trump signs two executive orders to narrow birthright citizenship after Supreme Court defeat
'They've Made A Joke Out Of It': Trump Signs New Order To Curb Birthright Citizenship
Trump Signs New Birthright Citizenship Executive Orders, Targets Birth Tourism. Who Will They Impact?
Trump signs 2 orders on birthright citizenship, birth tourism
Trump signs orders targeting birthright citizenship
Trump Signs New Executive Orders To Restrict Automatic US Citizenship For Children Born In America
Trump Signs Order Targeting 'Birth Tourism'
‘Birth tourism is banned’: Trump imposes new limits on birthright citizenship
