Trump Targets Birth Tourism as US Tightens Citizenship Rules

(President Donald Trump. Photo by BBC News)

President Trump has renewed efforts to restrict birthright citizenship provisions, signing a new directive targeting foreign nationals who travel to the United States under tourist pretences while intending to give birth on American soil.

This measure forms part of the administration's broader immigration policy tightening and could potentially affect Nigerians and other foreign nationals travelling to the country for childbirth purposes.

Speaking to journalists in the Oval Office, the President characterised current birthright citizenship provisions as having been exploited and undermined.

He had previously signed an executive order seeking to deny automatic citizenship to children born to parents residing in the country illegally or on temporary visa status.

However, lower courts blocked this measure, citing constitutional provisions establishing that individuals born or naturalised within the United States and subject to its jurisdiction qualify as citizens.

The US Supreme Court subsequently ruled against the previous effort in a late-June decision, which the President characterised as regrettable, stating that adjustments were necessary given perceived unfairness in the existing system.

Constitutional provisions do not extend citizenship coverage to individuals not subject to US jurisdiction, such as children born to foreign diplomatic personnel.

Additionally, US authorities retain existing authority to deny visa applications when officials determine an applicant's primary travel purpose involves childbirth within the country.

This latest measure forms part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy that includes plans for deporting millions of undocumented migrants and removing deportation protections previously extended to nationals from more than a dozen countries.