Summary

Summary of Executive Order: Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship

Purpose

• Reinforces the significance of U.S. citizenship as a constitutional privilege.
• Affirms that the Fourteenth Amendment provides citizenship to individuals born or naturalized in the U.S. but clarifies limitations on who qualifies for birthright citizenship.

Key Actions Taken

• Establishes guidelines limiting automatic citizenship for certain individuals born in the U.S.:
• Individuals whose mothers were unlawfully present and whose fathers were not citizens or lawful residents at their birth.
• Individuals whose mothers were in the U.S. lawfully but temporarily (e.g., tourists or students) and fathers were not citizens or lawful residents.
• This policy applies only to individuals born 30 days after the order's issuance (from January 20, 2025).
• Clarifies that other categories, such as children of lawful permanent residents, remain entitled to documentation of U.S. citizenship.

Enforcement

• Various government officials, including the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, are tasked with ensuring that their agencies adhere to this order and issue implementation guidance within 30 days.

Definitions

• Provides clear definitions for “mother” and “father” as the biological parents.

General Provisions

• States that this order does not diminish existing statutory authority of agencies or create enforceable rights against the U.S. or its entities.
• It is to be carried out in compliance with applicable laws and subject to funding availability.

This executive order aims to clarify and restrict the criteria for obtaining citizenship at birth, while also maintaining the rights of other specified groups.