President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at curbing birthright citizenship, particularly for children born to parents who are in the United States illegally. The orders direct federal agencies not to recognize a child’s citizenship if either parent is engaged in fraudulent activity to obtain citizenship, and seek to bar visas for foreigners suspected of birth tourism.

Legal Challenges Ahead

However, legal experts say the orders are likely to face significant legal challenges. The Supreme Court has already ruled in favor of broad citizenship rights for babies born in the United States, and the new orders may be seen as an attempt to circumvent that ruling. University of Virginia law professor Amanda Frost said, ‘These children are citizens based on their birth on U.S. soil. Illegal conduct by their parent can have no bearing on their status.’

The orders also seek to expand historical exceptions to automatic birthright citizenship, including children of diplomatic representatives and foreign government employees. However, some scholars argue that these expansions may stretch too far and could be deemed unconstitutional.

Reaction to the Orders

White House aides have defended the orders, saying they are necessary to prevent birth tourism and ensure that citizenship is not granted to those who do not deserve it. However, critics argue that the orders are an overreach of executive power and will ultimately be struck down by the courts. Rachel Rosenbloom, an immigration law professor at Northeastern University, said, ‘This order seems like a desperate measure by a president who is having a hard time accepting that he just suffered a significant loss at the Supreme Court.’

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.