US may require parents to prove citizenship to get passports for their children | US immigration
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-09-01 17:28:00 — www.theguardian.com
President Trump’s Push to Restrict Birthright Citizenship Faces Legal and Constitutional Hurdles
President Trump has made limiting birthright citizenship a central focus of his administration’s immigration agenda. According to State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott, “President Trump has been unequivocal that this administration will protect the meaning and value of American citizenship, full stop, and that includes making sure our passport adjudication process fully reflects that standard.” This statement comes as the State Department proposes new requirements for parents applying for passports for their children, demanding proof of parental citizenship or immigration status.
Crackdown on Birthright Citizenship
Trump’s efforts to restrict birthright citizenship have included executive orders aimed at narrowing who is eligible for automatic citizenship at birth. His initial order would have limited citizenship to children with at least one parent who was a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled this attempt unconstitutional in a 6-3 decision, finding it violated the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment.
Despite this setback, Trump’s August 6 executive order took aim at so-called “birth tourism,” targeting women who travel to the U.S. to give birth so their children can obtain citizenship. The latest draft guidance from the State Department outlines how the government would enforce this order, including requiring all parents or legal guardians to provide documentation of their citizenship or immigration status when applying for a child’s passport.
Fact-Check and Legal Challenges
The Supreme Court’s ruling directly contradicts Trump’s position, confirming that his initial attempt to restrict birthright citizenship was unlawful. The new directive, if implemented, would further withhold citizenship from children whose parents work for foreign governments in the U.S., are engaged in fraud or commercial transactions to obtain citizenship, or are classified as “alien enemies.”
Currently, parents of U.S.-born children only need to prove parentage and present photo identification when applying for a passport. Under Trump’s proposal, they would have to provide additional documentation, a significant change from existing procedures.
Ongoing Legal Battles
Lawyers representing babies who could be deprived of citizenship under Trump’s orders have filed class-action lawsuits, asking federal judges to block the latest directive from taking effect. The legal and constitutional challenges to Trump’s efforts underscore the ongoing controversy and uncertainty surrounding his push to redefine birthright citizenship.
Conclusion
President Trump’s campaign to limit birthright citizenship continues to face significant legal obstacles, with the Supreme Court already ruling against his broader efforts. His administration’s latest proposal represents a narrower, yet still controversial, attempt to change long-standing U.S. policy. As legal challenges proceed, the debate over the meaning and value of American citizenship remains at the forefront of the national conversation.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/01/parents-citizenship-passports-children