US May Ask Parents To Show Citizenship Papers For Their Children’s Passports

The Donald Trump administration is planning to require parents in the United States to provide proof of their own citizenship or legal status when applying for their child’s passport.

The proposal reportedly marks the administration's first detailed framework to implement President Trump’s August 6 executive order aimed at curbing "birth tourism" and narrowing historical exceptions to birthright citizenship.

Draft Guidance Details Major Overhaul

Under current rules, parents reportedly submitting passport applications for their US-born children must establish their relationship with the minor and provide government-issued photo identification. Whilst parents declare their citizenship status on forms, routine submission of immigration status documents is not mandatory.

The proposed change would alter this framework significantly. The draft guidance states that the US State Department will require parental information alongside proof of parental citizenship or immigration status to determine whether an applicant falls under Executive Order 14418.

Mandatory Documents For Guardians

If implemented, all parents or legal guardians will need to attach documents such as a valid US passport, birth certificate, I-94 form, or a permanent residency card to their child's application.

The State Department reportedly plans to use the collected data to verify if a child qualifies for citizenship under the revised mandate. According to the draft guidance, the directive seeks to withhold citizenship from children if a parent works for a foreign government in the US, is classified as an ‘alien enemy’, or has engaged in commercial transactions or fraud to secure citizenship.

Core Exceptions and Legal Hurdles

"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 reportedly said in a statement.

The draft guidance arrives amidst growing legal challenges. Lawyers representing affected children in class-action lawsuits have asked two federal judges to block the executive order. During a hearing in Greenbelt, Maryland, US District Judge Deborah Boardman expressed skepticism over the order, describing it as unprecedented, and allowed plaintiffs to update their filing.

This latest move follows a previous attempt by the Trump administration to limit birthright citizenship strictly to children with at least one US citizen or lawful permanent resident parent. That initial executive order was struck down in a 6-3 ruling by the US Supreme Court, which held that the restriction violated the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment.