Trump signs new executive orders to restrict birthright citizenship in the US

US President Donald Trump has signed two new executive orders aimed at restricting birthright citizenship and combating "birth tourism," following the Supreme Court's rejection of a previous attempt. The orders will apply to children of foreign government employees and children whose parents are defined as "subjects of enemy states." Human rights organizations are preparing for legal challenges.

US President Donald Trump signed two new executive orders on Thursday evening aimed at limiting eligibility for American citizenship by birth and intensifying the fight against "birth tourism" – the arrival of foreign women in the US to give birth and grant their children automatic citizenship. The move comes after the Supreme Court rejected a previous attempt by Trump to restrict birthright citizenship on June 30, by a vote of 6 to 3. The 14th Amendment to the US Constitution has long been interpreted as guaranteeing citizenship to those born on US soil. The new orders present a more targeted approach, applying, among others, to children of foreign government employees serving in the US, as well as children whose parents are defined as "subjects of enemy states," members of terrorist organizations, or operatives acting on behalf of foreign governments. The administration is also considering denying entry visas to women suspected of coming solely to give birth in the US. Trump called the Supreme Court ruling "a very, very unfortunate decision," and argued that the 14th Amendment, ratified after the Civil War, was originally intended to ensure citizenship for children of freed slaves. "What's happening now is that people are setting up businesses around this," he said. According to a University of Pennsylvania study cited by the New York Times, less than 0.3% of births in the US each year are related to tourists. The move is also expected to face legal challenges. Cody Wofsy, deputy director of the Immigrants' Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union, said: "No executive order can change the meaning of the Constitution, and any attempt to do so will meet the same fate."