Trump defies Supreme Court ruling, signs orders to limit US birthright citizenship
United States President Donald Trump
Abdullateef Fowewe
United States President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders seeking to restrict birthright citizenship, despite a recent Supreme Court ruling upholding the constitutional right.
The orders target children born to some foreign diplomats, “alien enemies” and women who travel to the United States specifically to give birth.
White House aide, Stephen Miller said, “That practice of birth tourism is, as of the signing of this order, hereby banned.”
Trump has earlier described the Supreme Court’s decision as a “very unfortunate decision”, arguing that people were “building businesses around” birth tourism.
However, immigrant rights groups and legal experts criticised the orders, saying they violate the 14th Amendment.
Deborah Fleischaker of UnidosUS said the measures were “nothing more than an attempt to get around” the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The new orders are expected to face legal challenges.
The 14th Amendment states that “all persons born or naturalised in the United States” are U.S. citizens.
