US Proposes Passport Rules Requiring Parents to Prove Citizenship

The U.S. State Department has proposed new passport requirements that would mandate parents to provide proof of their own citizenship or immigration status when applying for passports for their children. The draft guidance, first reported by Reuters, outlines how the department could implement President Donald Trump's August 6 executive order targeting what the administration calls "birth tourism" and seeking to narrow the application of birthright citizenship. Under the proposed rules, parents or legal guardians would need to submit documents such as a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate to prove citizenship, or evidence of immigration status like an I-94 form or permanent resident card. This information would be used to determine if the child falls under the restrictions of the executive order. Currently, parents generally only need to establish their relationship to the child and provide photo identification, indicating their citizenship status on the application without submitting supporting documents. The initiative is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to limit birthright citizenship, a key priority in its immigration crackdown.