The Trump administration introduces restrictions on birthright citizenship

Within the first 24 hours of returning to the presidency, Donald Trump began acting on one of his key campaign promises.

On Monday evening, he signed an executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children of immigrants who are in the US illegally.

"The federal government will no longer recognise automatic birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants born in the United States. We will also strengthen screening and oversight of illegal immigrants," a Trump administration official said at a briefing on Monday.

Trump had previously repeatedly stated his intention to prevent automatic citizenship for children of immigrants who entered the country illegally, as confirmed by USA TODAY. But is birthright citizenship a uniquely American feature? Let's look at the details.

What does birthright citizenship mean in the US?

Birthright citizenship is a legal principle under which citizenship is automatically granted to a person from the moment of birth. According to the American Immigration Council, such citizenship can be obtained in two ways: based on descent or place of birth.

Citizenship by place of birth is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, which grants citizenship to everyone born or naturalised in the country. The amendment was adopted in 1868, after the Civil War.

Section 1 states: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."

Is the US the only country with unrestricted birthright citizenship?

No. Despite Trump's claims in an NBC interview that the US is the only country granting birthright citizenship, data from World Population Review shows that 33 countries worldwide have a similar practice.

Which other countries grant birthright citizenship?

Countries with "jus soli" — citizenship by place of birth — include Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the US, Uruguay, and more than 20 other countries across North and South America, Africa, Oceania, and the Caribbean.

Which countries grant limited birthright citizenship?

Unlike "jus soli," World Population Review data shows that 32 countries operate under "jus sanguinis," where citizenship is granted if at least one parent is a citizen, or if other conditions are met.

The list includes India, Pakistan, Japan, Iran, Egypt, Germany, Thailand, the UK, France, South Africa, Italy, Colombia, Sudan, and other countries with specific criteria for obtaining citizenship.

When will the order take effect in the US?

The order's effect will not be immediate. The order states that it applies to those born more than 30 days after it was signed. However, immigrant rights advocates and the ACLU have already filed suit against the Trump administration over this order.