The US State Department is reportedly considering requiring parents to provide proof of their citizenship or immigration status when applying for their children’s passports.
Trump signed two executive orders last month to scale back American birthright citizenship, a second attempt after the supreme court shot down his previous attempt to eliminate the right.
But in a 6-3 ruling, the supreme court held that the order was unlawful and violated the citizenship clause of the constitution’s 14th amendment.
Trump’s new orders include a provision that broadens the existing definitions of non-citizens.
“The Department will require parental information and evidence of parental citizenship or immigration status as part of its determination whether the applicant is subject to EO 14418,” the draft guidance reads.
If implemented, the proposal would require all parents or legal guardians to provide proof of citizenship, such as a valid US passport or birth certificate, or evidence of their immigration status, such as an I-94 form or a legal permanent residency card, when submitting a passport application for their children.
The information would be used by the government to determine if the child qualifies for citizenship under the new order.
Currently, parents whose children were born in the US only need to prove their parentage and present photo identification during this process.
They are also asked to check a box on the application form indicating if they are US citizens, but are not required to file supporting documentation.
The proposal is part of Trump’s latest effort to limit birthright citizenship, a top priority for the president in his crackdown on immigration.
