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When the United States Supreme Court in June ruled in favour of broad citizenship rights for babies born in the country, one of the most conservative justices complained that the decision was so sweeping it would even cover so-called birth tourists.
Women “who come here solely for the purpose of giving birth” would be able to get automatic citizenship for their children, Samuel Alito wrote, dissenting from the 6-3 ruling that invalidated President Donald Trump’s first attempt to curtail US birthright citizenship.
Undeterred by the court’s ruling, Trump tried again on Thursday, signing two executive orders largely aimed at birth tourism. That part of Trump’s action, which is certain to face legal challenges, is likely doomed, legal experts said. It targets a category of people that legal experts said the Supreme Court already addressed.
“These children are citizens based on their birth on US soil,” said University of Virginia law professor Amanda Frost, who studies birthright citizenship. “Illegal conduct by their parent can have no bearing on their status.”
