The United States State Department is considering requiring parents to provide proof of their citizenship or immigration status when applying for passports for their children.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to a draft guidance reviewed by Reuters and reported by TheCable, the proposed measure is part of President Donald Trump’s latest effort to restrict birthright citizenship and curb what his administration describes as “birth tourism.”
If implemented, parents or legal guardians applying for a child’s passport would have to submit evidence of their own status. Acceptable documents could include a valid US passport or birth certificate for citizens, while non-citizens could be required to provide documents such as an I-94 immigration record or permanent resident card.
The information would be used by the State Department to determine whether the child qualifies for US citizenship under Trump’s August 6 executive order.
The proposed guidance is linked to an executive order that seeks to narrow the circumstances under which children born in the United States automatically acquire citizenship. It targets, among others, children whose parents are not US citizens or lawful permanent residents in certain circumstances.
The move follows Trump’s broader immigration agenda. His administration has argued that existing citizenship rules have been exploited through birth tourism, where foreign nationals travel to the US to give birth so their children can obtain American citizenship.
However, attempts by the Trump administration to restrict birthright citizenship have faced legal challenges. The US Supreme Court previously ruled against a broader version of the policy, finding it unconstitutional. Several lawsuits challenging the latest effort are also ongoing.
The proposed passport requirement is not yet a final rule. The State Department is still considering the guidance, meaning the requirement could change before any implementation.
