Trump Proposes New Passport Requirements for U.S.-Born Children

A new State Department proposal could change the passport requirements parents must meet when applying for passports for US-born children.

According to a revised draft of the guidelines reviewed by Reuters, parents would have to provide proof of their own US citizenship or immigration status so the government could determine whether the child meets citizenship requirements.

The measure is part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to restrict the scope of birthright citizenship and combat what his administration calls “birth tourism.”

What Documents Would Parents Have to Provide?

If the proposal is implemented, every parent or legal guardian applying for a child’s passport would have to provide evidence of their citizenship or immigration status.

Documents that could be requested include a valid US passport, birth certificate, permanent resident card, or Form I-94, depending on the parents’ immigration circumstances.

The State Department would use the documentation to determine whether the child is subject to Executive Order 14418 and meets the requirements for US citizenship.

Currently, parents of children born in the United States must primarily establish their relationship to the child and provide photo identification. Although the application asks whether the parents are US citizens, they generally do not have to submit additional documentation proving their status.

Trump Puts Birthright Citizenship Back in Spotlight

The proposal is connected to the executive order Trump signed on August 6, which focuses particularly on so-called “birth tourism”—cases involving women who travel to the United States to give birth so their children automatically obtain citizenship.

The new directive also addresses cases involving children of people working for foreign governments in the United States, fraud or arrangements intended to obtain citizenship, and individuals classified as “enemy aliens.”

“The Department will require information about the parents and proof of their citizenship or immigration status as part of their determination of whether the applicant is subject to Executive Order 14418,” states the draft cited by Reuters.

State Department Defends New Passport Requirements for US-Born Children

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the administration is seeking to protect the meaning of US citizenship.

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“President Trump has been unequivocal in stating that this administration will protect the meaning and value of US citizenship,” Pigott said, adding that the passport issuance process must reflect that standard.

Proposal Already Faces a Court Battle

Birthright citizenship has become one of the most contentious elements of Trump’s immigration policy.

According to the available information, an earlier administration effort sought to restrict automatic citizenship to children with at least one parent who is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Attorneys representing minors who could be affected by the new order have now asked federal judges to prevent it from taking effect.

One lawsuit is before federal Judge Deborah Boardman in Maryland, who allowed the plaintiffs to amend their complaint to determine whether blocking the measure would be appropriate.

The Department of Justice, meanwhile, has argued that a restraining order would be premature because federal agencies have not yet published final guidelines for implementing the presidential order.

For now, the State Department proposal does not constitute a definitive change to the requirements for applying for a child’s passport.