President signs executive orders narrowing birthright citizenship eligibility and banning birth tourism

The president announced two executive orders addressing birthright citizenship and what administration officials called "birth tourism." Steven explained the first order revises who may be ineligible for birthright citizenship, citing categories such as "alien enemies, members of foreign terrorist organizations, and large categories of people who lobby and act on behalf of foreign governments."

"So today, the president signed these 2 executive orders here relating to birthright citizenship and birth tourism," Steven said. He and Will Scharf said the administration would use statutory authority in the Immigration and Nationality Act to deny visas and pursue enforcement against organized birth-tourism operations.

Officials described the second order as a historic ban on birth tourism and said visas would be denied when there is reason to believe the traveler's primary purpose is to give birth to obtain U.S. citizenship for a child. Steven called the practice a "fraud on the American system" and said the orders will include visa-denial authorities and law enforcement measures; the administration said a fact sheet would be released with further details.

The president framed the actions as a response to a Supreme Court decision on birthright citizenship and said the changes were needed to stop perceived exploitation of the clause. Reporters asked about the number of people affected and about potential constitutional challenges; administration lawyers who spoke said they believe the orders rest on existing statutory authority but acknowledged legal review and potential challenge.