U.S. May Require Proof of Citizenship for Child Passports

The U.S. government is considering new rules that would require parents and legal guardians to provide proof of their citizenship or immigration status when applying for passports for their children. This proposed requirement is part of the Trump administration's broader initiative to restrict birthright citizenship.

According to draft guidance reviewed by Reuters, the U.S. State Department plans to collect information about the citizenship or immigration status of a child's parents to determine the child's eligibility for U.S. citizenship under President Donald Trump's August 6 executive order.

Parents may need to submit documents such as a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate as proof of citizenship, or an I-94 arrival record or lawful permanent resident card if providing evidence of immigration status. This marks a significant shift from the current process, where parents typically only declare their citizenship status without needing to provide documentary evidence.

The proposed changes are linked to Trump's executive order targeting "birth tourism" and are facing legal challenges.