Trump ends birthright citizenship in landmark executive order

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to non-citizen parents. This means that babies born in the U.S. will no longer automatically receive U.S. citizenship if their parents are not citizens or lawful permanent residents.

Birthright citizenship has been a long-standing policy in the U.S., rooted in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which grants citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States.” Legal experts argue that changing this policy through an executive order challenges the Constitution and will likely face significant legal challenges.

President Trump has criticized birthright citizenship, stating, “It’s ridiculous that we are the only country in the world doing this.” However many countries including Canada and Mexico also grant citizenship to children born within their borders regardless of their parents’ citizenship status.

The executive order is part of a series of immigration-related actions taken by the Trump administration on its first day back in office. Other measures include declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy and enhancing deportation processes for individuals without legal status.

Critics argue that ending birthright citizenship could lead to a large population of stateless individuals, creating legal and humanitarian issues.

Supporters of the executive order believe it will deter illegal immigration and uphold the integrity of U.S. citizenship. They argue that the original intent of the 14th Amendment was not to grant citizenship to the children of individuals who are in the country illegally.

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