Donald Trump has renewed efforts to restrict birthright citizenship in the United States by signing two executive orders on Thursday, August 7th, 2026. These orders come weeks after the Supreme Court rejected his earlier attempt to end the 150-year-old policy granting automatic citizenship to anyone born on US soil.

One executive order broadens the definition of non-citizens whose children are ineligible for birthright citizenship. It bars automatic citizenship for babies born in the US to two non-citizen parents if one parent is a member of a foreign terrorist group, a foreign government employee, has sought citizenship fraudulently, or resides in US territories where citizenship is not federally granted.

The second order prohibits birth tourism—the practice of pregnant women traveling to the US to give birth so their children automatically gain citizenship. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that between 22,000 and 26,000 babies are born annually in the US through birth tourism.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump criticized the Supreme Court's decision, stating, "This should have happened years ago, but we're taking care of it now." He added that his administration is protecting against "malign foreign actors who attempt to swindle American citizens by taking advantage of the generosity of our Nation."

Stephen Miller, homeland security advisor and White House deputy chief of staff for policy, explained that the president has the authority to ban birth tourism under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows setting exceptions on who can enter the country. However, Miller acknowledged that once a child is born in the US, the president does not have the power to revoke that child's citizenship, a point settled by the Supreme Court's recent ruling.

These executive orders mark a continued push by the Trump administration to redefine aspects of US citizenship policy amid ongoing legal and political debates.

Sources