President Donald Trump is reviving his fight against birthright citizenship, signing two executive orders Thursday that aim to narrow who qualifies for American citizenship by birth. The move comes just months after the Supreme Court rejected his previous attempt to dismantle the century-old interpretation of the 14th Amendment.

Speaking from the Oval Office on August 6, 2026, Trump declared he was once more taking aim at the automatic citizenship granted to anyone born on U.S. soil. “We are going to restore the integrity of our citizenship laws,” he said. One order seeks to limit the pool of children born in the United States who can become citizens. The other targets what the president described as “birth tourism,” imposing stricter visa rules for foreign nationals traveling to the U.S. specifically to give birth.

While the White House provided few additional details, Trump asserted that his latest actions are on solid legal ground. “I believe these are constitutional,” he told reporters. That optimism contrasts sharply with the fate of his first executive order on the issue, which he signed on his first day back in office in January 2025. That order attempted to declare that children of undocumented immigrants or those on temporary visas were not automatically citizens. It was immediately challenged in court, blocked by multiple lower courts, and ultimately struck down by the Supreme Court in June 2026 in a 6-3 decision.

The ruling reaffirmed a broad interpretation of birthright citizenship, rooted in the 14th Amendment, adopted after the Civil War, which states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” The Supreme Court’s narrow majority surprised many legal experts, who had long considered the principle settled law. Dissenting justices argued that the clause’s original meaning allowed for exceptions.

Thursday’s executive orders appear designed to test the boundaries of that ruling. By focusing on “birth tourism” and tightening visa rules, Trump’s team may be aiming at a narrower target than the blanket denial of citizenship in his earlier order. Critics, however, are already preparing legal challenges, arguing that any attempt to restrict birthright citizenship through executive action violates the Constitution. Immigration advocacy groups note that the 14th Amendment makes no distinction between tourists, temporary residents, and undocumented immigrants regarding birthright citizenship.

The president’s renewed push injects fresh uncertainty into the lives of thousands of families. Each year, an estimated 250,000 children are born in the U.S. to parents who are in the country illegally, according to data from the Pew Research Center. The new orders could also affect pregnant women traveling from countries like China, Russia, and Nigeria, where so-called birth tourism has been a growing trend.

Legal battles are expected to unfold swiftly. The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups have already signaled they will challenge the orders in court. “The president cannot rewrite the Constitution by fiat,” said a spokesperson for the ACLU. “We will fight to protect the fundamental principle that every child born in America is a citizen.”

Trump’s actions come as immigration remains a central issue in the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans have largely supported the president’s stance, arguing that birthright citizenship encourages illegal immigration and “anchor babies.” Democrats and civil rights groups denounce the effort as a radical attack on a core American value.

As the legal and political battles unfold, the Supreme Court’s June decision may not be the final word. With a new case on the horizon, the justices could revisit the issue, potentially with a different majority. For now, the nation watches as Trump once again tests the limits of executive power on the sensitive terrain of citizenship.