Trump Signs Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship, Targeting Commercialized 'Birth Tourism'

U.S. President Donald Trump signed two executive orders at the White House on Thursday, July 6, focusing on cracking down on the commercialization of 'birth tourism' and further limiting the scope of automatic citizenship for some children born in the United States.

After signing the executive order on birthright citizenship, Trump delivered remarks at the White House. He stated that the government would launch larger-scale and more forceful enforcement actions against the 'birth tourism' industry, which organizes trips for foreign nationals to give birth in the U.S. through hotels and other institutions.

Trump argued that the birthright citizenship system has long been abused, calling 'birth tourism' a business. He estimated that 'hundreds of thousands' of people may obtain U.S. citizenship for their children through these means each year, citing examples where individuals had brought dozens of children under family names for such arrangements.

Trump claimed that the Supreme Court previously issued an 'unfair' ruling against his attempts to limit birthright citizenship, and therefore the government is advancing new measures. He maintained that the latest executive order complies with the Constitution and declared that the government would end the practice of obtaining U.S. citizenship through commercialized 'birth tourism'.

According to the executive order released by the White House, 'birth tourism' is defined as foreigners entering the United States on non-immigrant visas with the purpose of giving birth domestically, or assisting other foreigners in doing so. The new executive order calls for enhanced efforts to combat foreigners using non-immigrant visas to enter the U.S. for childbirth.

The executive order authorizes the U.S. Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to take several actions:

1. Deny or revoke visas and travel authorizations, impose permanent entry bans, and deny admission or deport foreigners who participate in or plan to participate in 'birth tourism'.

2. Take corresponding actions against organizations and individuals, both inside and outside the U.S., that organize or assist such activities. The order also stipulates that the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security may grant exemptions based on humanitarian reasons or national interest.

This marks the second time Trump has attempted to tighten birthright citizenship, and it is expected to face legal challenges on constitutional grounds. On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Trump's earlier, broader executive order restricting birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens.