Trump Signs Executive Orders Targeting Birthright Citizenship and Birth Tourism

President Donald Trump signed two new executive orders on Thursday, August 7, 2026, aimed at restricting birthright citizenship and targeting birth tourism.

The directives are intended to narrow eligibility for automatic citizenship in specific circumstances, relying on existing executive and immigration authorities. This action follows a previous attempt by President Trump to limit birthright citizenship, which the Supreme Court struck down just one month prior. The administration's renewed focus on the issue comes after the prior effort was blocked by the high court.

Critics of the new orders express belief that they will face the same legal challenges and ultimate fate as the president's previous attempt. The administration's operational definition of a birth tourist does not encompass H-1B or L-1 visa holders, who are authorized to reside in the United States for specialized employment, nor does it include F-1 students, who are authorized for educational purposes.

Fox News reported that the new directives are designed to narrow eligibility for automatic citizenship. The orders specifically target individuals traveling to the United States primarily for the purpose of giving birth to a child who would then receive U.S. citizenship. Legal challenges to these executive orders are widely anticipated, setting the stage for potential court battles over their implementation and constitutionality.