President Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at restricting birthright citizenship in the United States. Here is what birthright citizenship is, and what the orders try to change.

What is birthright citizenship?

It is the rule that a person born on a country’s soil automatically becomes a citizen of that country, regardless of the parents’ nationality. In the United States the principle is written into the Constitution, in the 14th Amendment, adopted after the Civil War. Many countries in the Americas follow the same rule; most European countries, including Norway, do not — there, citizenship generally follows the parents.

What do the new orders do?

According to reporting by Democracy Now, the orders follow a Supreme Court decision that rejected an earlier attempt to abolish birthright citizenship. White House adviser Stephen Miller said at the signing that the president is using a new Supreme Court ruling to expand the categories of people who are ineligible for birthright citizenship — naming, among others, people described as alien enemies of the United States, members of foreign terrorist organizations, and people acting on behalf of foreign governments.

Why is this contested?

Because a right written into the Constitution normally cannot be changed by a presidential order — that usually requires a constitutional amendment, which is a slow process needing broad political agreement. The central legal question is whether a president can narrow who counts as covered by the 14th Amendment. Critics say no; the administration argues a recent court ruling gives it room to do so. Expect court challenges.

What happens next

Lawsuits are the likely next step, and the practical effect on families will depend on how quickly courts respond. For now, the orders signal intent more than settled law.

Source: Democracy Now via Havana Times, August 7, 2026.