Azernews.Az

By Alimat Aliyeva

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at restricting so-called “birth tourism” — a practice in which foreign nationals travel to the United States to give birth, allowing their children to automatically receive U.S. citizenship under current birthright citizenship rules, AzerNEWS reports.

The announcement was made by Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, during the signing ceremony. According to Miller, the new order expands the categories of people who would no longer qualify for citizenship based solely on being born in the United States.

“These include, for example, foreign nationals considered hostile to the United States, members of foreign terrorist organizations, as well as certain individuals who represent or act on behalf of foreign governments,” Miller said.

The administration argues that the measure is intended to prevent what it considers the misuse of the U.S. citizenship system and to stop people from obtaining citizenship through temporary visits to the country. Miller described the move as a “historic” step, claiming that it represents the first federal attempt to specifically target birth tourism.

The issue of birthright citizenship has long been a subject of political debate in the United States. The practice is based on the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1868, which grants citizenship to most people born on American soil. Critics of birth tourism argue that the system can be exploited, while opponents of restrictions say changing these rules could raise serious constitutional questions.

Legal experts note that any major changes to birthright citizenship are likely to face challenges in U.S. courts, potentially making the issue part of a wider national debate over immigration policy and constitutional rights.