American dream crumbles: Trump signs executive order to end birthright citizenship

Washington: Children of non-citizens or non-permanent residents will not be US citizens anymore, as President Donald Trump signs an executive order to end birthright citizenship. This is one of the 10 executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on his first day of office, ending the policy anyone born in the US automatically receives a US passport.

Trump officially signed off on the Executive Order at the White House almost eight hours after becoming the 47th commander in chief, remarking, “That’s a big one". People have wanted to do this for decades.” as he affixed his signature.

Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. It’s been in place for decades and applies to children born to parents in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country.

The federal government will no longer recognize the immediate citizenship of children of illegal immigrants or non-immigrants born in the US “on a prospective basis.

As per the executive orders from the White House, among the categories of individuals born in the United States and not subject to the jurisdiction thereof, the privilege of United States citizenship does not automatically extend to persons born in the United States. This means those babies whose parents are illegal immigrants or parents who are on H 1B/ F 1 visas do not get birthright citizenship.

Children born to those on work visas L1s, H-1B will not become US citizens unless one of the parents is a citizen or green card holder. So, if both parents are on H-1B or other work visa, children born 30 days from now in such families won't become US citizens.

The Order applies :

1. When that person's mother was unlawfully present in the United States and the father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person's birth.

2. When that person's mother's presence in the United States at the time of said person's birth was lawful but temporary (such as, but not limited to, visiting the United States under the auspices of the Visa Waiver Program or visiting on a student, work, or tourist visa) and the father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person's birth.

According to the executive orders, it is the policy of the United States that no department or agency of the United States government shall issue documents recognizing United States citizenship, or accept documents issued by State, local, or other governments or authorities purporting to recognize United States citizenship, to persons. "This will apply only to persons who are born within the United States after 30 days from the date of this order. Nothing in this order shall be construed to affect the entitlement of other individuals, including children of lawful permanent residents, to obtain documentation of their United States citizenship," read the Order.

Trump and other opponents of birthright citizenship have argued that it creates an incentive for people to come to the US illegally or take part in “birth tourism,” in which pregnant women enter the US specifically to give birth so their children can have citizenship before returning to their home countries. It may be noted that Trump during the election campaign said his executive order would make “clear to federal agencies that under the correct interpretation of the law, going forward, the future children of illegal aliens will not receive automatic US citizenship.”