Trump Ends Birthright Citizenship with Executive Order: What You Need to Know

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to non-citizen or undocumented parents. This move seeks to reinterpret the 14th Amendment, which has traditionally been understood to grant citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.

The executive order, titled "Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship," directs federal agencies to withhold automatic citizenship from children born in the U.S. unless at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Legal experts anticipate immediate challenges to this order, citing the 1898 Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which affirmed that the 14th Amendment grants citizenship to nearly all individuals born in the country, regardless of their parents' nationality.

This action is part of a broader set of immigration policies introduced by President Trump upon taking office, including declaring a national emergency at the southern border, reinstating the "Remain in Mexico" policy, and resuming construction of the border wall.

Critics argue that the executive order undermines constitutional protections and could create a class of stateless individuals. Advocacy groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have announced plans to challenge the order in court, asserting that it violates the clear intent of the 14th Amendment.

As the legal battles unfold, the status of birthright citizenship in the United States remains uncertain, setting the stage for a significant constitutional debate.