Trump signs executive order to ban birthright citizenship

As part of his firm stance on immigration, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday, ending birthright citizenship for newborns whose parents are residing in the United States illegally or on temporary visas.

The order is set to take effect within 30 hours of its signing.

The 78-year-old president has long been a vocal critic of immigration, and this latest move marks a notable step in his administration’s efforts to tighten immigration policies.

Upon taking office as the 47th president, Trump swiftly enacted a series of executive orders that placed severe restrictions on migrants, including increased military presence at the southern border and cuts to programs designed to facilitate migrant entry and residency.

Under the US Constitution, birthright citizenship has historically been granted to all children born in the country, regardless of their parents' immigration status.

The 14th Amendment guarantees this right, stating that all individuals born or naturalised in the United States are citizens.

The push to abolish birthright citizenship has been a key issue for conservatives, who argue that children of illegal immigrants should not automatically be granted US citizenship.

However, experts suggest that Trump’s executive order would have little immediate impact unless a constitutional amendment is passed by Congress and approved by three-fourths of state legislatures.

Currently, the US Senate consists of 47 Democrats and 53 Republicans, while the House of Representatives has 215 Democratic seats compared to 220 Republican seats.

Precedents in US history show that the Supreme Court has upheld birthright citizenship in multiple cases. In the wake of Trump’s executive order, several organisations have already moved to challenge the decision in court.