US may require parents’ citizenship and immigration proof for children’s passports: Report
The US govt is reportedly preparing passport rules that could require parents to provide citizenship or immigration documents for children’s applications
The Donald Trump administration is reportedly preparing a new passport rule that would ask parents in the US to provide proof of their citizenship or immigration status when applying for passports for their children. The move forms part of President Donald Trump's broader attempt to restrict birthright citizenship.
State Department prepares new rules
The State Department proposal is the first detailed plan from the administration for putting Trump's August 6 executive order into practice, reported Reuters. According to the report, the order targets what it describes as "birth tourism" and seeks to expand the historical exceptions surrounding birthright citizenship.
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"President Trump has been unequivocal that this Administration will protect the meaning and value of American citizenship, full stop, and that includes making sure our passport adjudication process fully reflects that standard," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott told Reuters.
Parents may need status documents
As per current passport rules, parents seeking passports for US-born children are required to establish their relationship with the child and submit government-issued photo identification IDs. Parents also declare their citizenship status on application forms. They are not generally required to provide documents confirming their immigration status.
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However, the draft guidance states that "the Department will require parental information and evidence of parental citizenship or immigration status as part of its determination whether the applicant is subject to EO 14418," referring to the executive order by its number.
Documents to determine eligibility
Under the proposed system, parents or legal guardians would have to submit evidence of US citizenship, including a valid passport or birth certificate, or documents showing their immigration status. The latter could include an I-94 form or a legal permanent residency card.
The State Department proposal says the information would help determine whether a child qualifies for citizenship under the order.
Reuters reported that the directive would deny citizenship to children whose parent works for a foreign government in the US, has engaged in fraud or a commercial transaction to obtain citizenship, or is designated an "alien enemy."