U.S. Moves to Tighten Children’s Passport Rules Under New Trump Policy

WASHINGTON — September 3, 2026

The United States government is considering new requirements that would make parents provide additional proof of their citizenship or immigration status when applying for passports for their children under a new Trump administration policy.

According to a draft directive from the U.S. State Department, parents or legal guardians could be required to submit documents such as a valid U.S. passport, birth certificate, immigration records or permanent-resident documentation. 

Reuters

The proposed changes are linked to President Donald Trump’s August 6 executive order targeting what his administration describes as “birth tourism” and seeking to narrow circumstances under which children born in the United States would receive citizenship.

Under the proposed procedure, the government would collect information about the parents and use evidence of their citizenship or immigration status to determine whether the child is affected by the executive order.

The proposed rules represent a significant change from the current passport application process, under which parents of U.S.-born children generally provide proof of the child’s parentage and identification but are not routinely required to submit supporting evidence of their own citizenship or immigration status. 

Reuters

However, the policy faces significant legal uncertainty. A federal judge in Maryland has now issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of Trump’s latest birthright-citizenship order, citing the constitutional protections of the 14th Amendment and existing Supreme Court precedent. 

Reuters +1

The development is expected to fuel further debate over birthright citizenship, immigration policy and the documentation required for American children to obtain passports.