A new analysis shows that President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship could impose a significant financial burden on U.S. families. The proposed policy would require parents to pay a “birth tax” of $3,000 or more to prove their child’s U.S. citizenship.
According to the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), parents would face substantial costs, including a $1,385 filing fee for Form N-600, a 14-page document, and legal fees ranging from $1,500 to $10,000. Additional expenses would come from biometric submissions and visits to government offices. Margaret Stock, an immigration lawyer, warned that this process would be more complicated than current procedures for verifying citizenship.
The executive order, which would end automatic citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants or temporary visa holders, has been blocked by several lawsuits. The Trump administration is seeking to lift the injunctions. If the order goes into effect, parents would need to submit multiple documents to prove their child’s citizenship, creating significant bureaucratic hurdles.
If the policy is implemented, the federal government would take over the citizenship verification process, potentially creating a centralized citizenship registry and even a national ID system. This would especially burden low-income families, who may lack the resources to navigate the expensive and complex process.
The Trump administration’s policy could create a two-tiered society, where a child’s future prospects depend on whether they are born a U.S. citizen. Critics argue that the long-term costs and administrative challenges have not been fully considered, especially for families with fewer resources.
Related topics:
