Trump Ends Birthright Citizenship, Declares ‘Golden Age’ in Inaugural Speech

The 47th president announced sweeping policies, including a ban on birthright citizenship, reclamation of the Panama Canal, and a return to traditional energy production.

Newly inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump on Monday announced a sweeping policy shift poised to have ripple effects nationwide. One of his first actions as president was the signing an executive order aiming to end birthright citizenship for children born to parents without legal status in the United States. This move seeks to interpret the 14th Amendment, specifically the clause stating citizenship for those "subject to the jurisdiction thereof," to exclude children whose parents are visitors or undocumented immigrants. This will impact the USVI, where the new citizenship criteria will be enforced along with all other U.S. jurisdictions.

Before the executive order, any child born on U.S. soil or in its territories automatically received citizenship, regardless of their parents' legal status. It has been a common practice for non-citizens to travel to the United States to give birth, ensuring their child would acquire American citizenship before returning to their home country. While signing the executive order banning birthright citizenship, President Trump stated that the United States was the only country that allowed this practice.