At a White House signing ceremony, former President Trump signed an executive order aimed at altering how the federal government treats birthright citizenship and mail-in voting. The move reflects his long-standing effort to limit automatic U.S. citizenship for children born to noncitizen parents and his continued criticism of expanded mail-in balloting.
On birthright citizenship, the order instructs federal agencies to adopt a narrower interpretation of the 14th Amendment, arguing that citizenship should not be automatically conferred on the children of those in the country unlawfully. Legal scholars and civil-rights groups immediately called the action unconstitutional, saying the amendment’s text and Supreme Court precedent establish birthright citizenship. Democrats and immigrant advocates warned of severe consequences for families and predicted rapid legal challenges.
Regarding mail-in ballots, Trump reiterated claims that widespread absentee and mail voting increases the risk of fraud and undermines election integrity. The executive order called for reviews of federal mail voting procedures and urged Congress to pass legislation tightening rules around absentee and mail ballots. Election experts and voting-rights organizations disputed the fraud claims and said restricting mail voting could suppress turnout, especially among voters who rely on absentee options.
Critics across the political spectrum said the orders are likely to face swift courtroom challenges and could have significant legal and practical implications for immigration policy and voting access ahead of upcoming elections.
