President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a pair of executive orders designed to target birthright citizenship. One order aims to outlaw "birth tourism," while the second seeks to narrow the criteria for who is eligible for birthright citizenship.

These actions follow the Supreme Court's decision to strike down a previous executive order from the first day of Trump's second term, which had attempted to eliminate birthright citizenship entirely. The administration's new approach seeks to achieve similar goals through different legal avenues.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller explained the administration's stance, stating that the Immigration and Nationality Act grants the president authority to prescribe reasonable rules and regulations. He characterized birth tourism as a "fraudulent purpose" against the U.S. government, asserting that obtaining a visa for this intent is now banned.

The implications of these orders are significant, potentially impacting individuals seeking to gain U.S. citizenship for their children by giving birth within the country. The administration's justification hinges on claims of widespread abuse of the current system.

During oral arguments concerning Trump's earlier executive order, the administration's Solicitor General John Sauer provided varying estimates regarding the prevalence of birth tourism. While he cited a congressional report mentioning "hotspots" and "Russian elites" using such services, he also acknowledged uncertainty about precise numbers when pressed by Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, stating, "No one knows for sure."

Miller elaborated on the categories of individuals who would be deemed ineligible for birthright citizenship under the new order. These include "alien enemies of the United States," members of foreign terrorist organizations, and individuals who lobby or act on behalf of foreign governments.

The legal basis for these orders, particularly the authority to ban birth tourism, is derived from section 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This section makes it unlawful for noncitizens to enter or leave the U.S. except under rules prescribed by the president.

President Trump has previously stated that hundreds of thousands of people exploit birth tourism. The effectiveness and legality of these new executive orders, especially in light of the Supreme Court's previous ruling, will likely be subject to further legal challenges and scrutiny.