President Donald Trump has signed an order directing U.S. government agencies to stop issuing citizenship documentation for babies born in the United States to parents without legal status.
The order, titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” was signed just hours after Trump took office.
The order instructs federal agencies to deny U.S. citizenship to children born in the U.S. if their mothers are in the country illegally or on temporary visas, and the father is neither a U.S. citizen nor a lawful permanent resident.
Effective February 19, the order will deny U.S. citizenship, including passports, to children born on U.S. soil unless at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or green card holder.
This birthright order is part of a series of immigration directives aimed at reversing Biden-era policies and enforcing a crackdown on border security and immigrant communities, which according to analysts is setting the stage for anticipated legal battles.