Trump Signs Order Denying Birthright Citizenship to Children of Nigerians, Other Foreigners Who Travel to US to Give Birth

United States President Donald Trump has signed a fresh executive order aimed at curbing birth tourism, renewing his long-running campaign to restrict automatic citizenship for children born in the country to foreign nationals.

The latest directive targets individuals whom the administration says enter the United States on tourist visas with the primary intention of giving birth so their children can obtain American citizenship.

The move, which forms part of Trump’s broader immigration agenda, could affect Nigerians and other foreign nationals who travel to the US for childbirth.

Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump insisted that the country’s birthright citizenship policy had been widely exploited.

“They’ve taken birthright citizenship and they’ve made a joke out of it,” he said.

The President had previously signed an executive order seeking to deny automatic citizenship to children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or on temporary visas. However, the policy was blocked by lower courts, which held that it conflicted with the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.

The amendment guarantees citizenship to persons born or naturalised in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction.

In a ruling delivered in late June, the US Supreme Court also rejected the administration’s earlier attempt to implement the policy. Reacting to the judgment, Trump described the decision as “very unfortunate.”

“We’re making adjustments because it’s very unfair,” he said.

Although the Constitution excludes certain categories, including children born to foreign diplomats who are not subject to US jurisdiction, immigration authorities already have the power to refuse visas if they believe an applicant’s main purpose for travelling is to give birth in the United States.

Trump’s latest order is one of several immigration measures introduced during his administration as he seeks to tighten border controls and reduce illegal migration. The broader policy also includes plans to deport millions of undocumented migrants and withdraw deportation protections previously granted to nationals of more than a dozen countries.

The directive is expected to face fresh legal scrutiny, with constitutional experts and immigrant rights advocates likely to challenge any measure they believe conflicts with the protections guaranteed under the 14th Amendment.