Kathmandu. A new rule regarding the passport of children is coming into effect in the United States. Under this rule, parents may be required to provide proof of their citizenship or legal residency in the United States when applying for their child’s passport.
The US State Department has prepared a proposal in this regard. This proposal is part of President Donald Trump’s effort to stop birthright US citizenship.
According to current rules, parents must provide proof of their relationship and identity with the child when applying for a passport for a child born in the United States. If the parents themselves are U.S. citizens, they do not have to provide separate documentation. This system may change when the new proposal comes into effect.
Under the new proposal, parents or legal guardians will have to provide proof of their citizenship or residency in the United States when applying for a child’s passport. U.S. citizen parents can provide documents such as a passport or birth certificate. Meanwhile, others may have to provide proof of their legal status in the United States.
Based on these documents, the US government will verify whether the child is eligible for US citizenship. This rule has been developed to implement President Trump’s August 6 order.
In fact, Donald Trump has been trying to change the citizenship rules for children born in the United States for a long time. His administration wants to stop the incidents of women traveling to the United States to give birth. This is commonly called ‘birth tourism’.
Trump’s previous order stated that a child born in the U.S. would automatically receive citizenship if at least one parent was a U.S. citizen or a green card holder. However, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the order unconstitutional, saying it conflicted with the citizenship provisions of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
The Trump administration’s new move is also being challenged in court. A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of children who may be affected by the new rule. Lawyers have asked the court to stop the new order from going into effect.
The case has also been heard in federal court in Maryland. Judge Deborah Boardman raised questions about the order and allowed the case to move forward to determine whether the new order can be stayed.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government claims that the implementation process of the new rule is not yet complete. The Justice Department has also said that it is premature to challenge the case in court. The full details of the implementation of the rule by the government departments have not yet been released.
If the proposal is implemented, the process of obtaining a passport for children in the U.S. could become more stringent. Families of children born in the U.S. may be required to provide documents confirming their citizenship or status of residence. — Agency
