United States Citizenship

Current rules

The court's 3 August 2026 preliminary injunction temporarily blocks the 2025 restriction. Consequently, qualified NGOs can again participate in voter-registration activities at administrative naturalisation ceremonies while the case is litigated.

Overview

On 6 August 2026, President Trump issued an Executive Order aiming to refine the interpretation of birthright citizenship in the U.S. This order specifies categories of children born to non-citizen parents who will not be recognised as U.S. citizens, focusing on instances involving foreign adversaries, government employees, fraudulent commercial transactions for birth tourism, and births in specific territories. Executive departments and agencies are mandated to align their policies and guidance with this order within 30 days.

What changed in the latest version

This court decision brings back the ability for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to help new citizens register to vote at naturalisation ceremonies. This might mean more newly naturalised citizens will vote. It temporarily overturns a past policy. That policy gave voter registration work only to state and local election officials.

Explained simply

Imagine a party where new citizens get their papers. Last year, the government said only official helpers could sign people up to vote. Now, a judge has stepped in and said, 'Hold on, let the other groups, like charities, help out again too!' So, for now, more people can help new citizens register to vote at these parties, just like it used to be.

Frequently asked

Version history

1. v2Effective 3 Aug 2026Court DecisionMedium impact
   Court Issues Stay: Non-Governmental Organizations Permitted at Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies for Voter Registration

   A U.S. District Court in Maryland stopped a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy from August 2025. This policy had limited voter registration help at naturalisation ceremonies to only state and local election officials. Because of this decision, the USCIS Policy Manual from 28 June 2017, is back in effect. This manual allows Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to give this help.

2. v1Effective 6 Aug 2026Executive OrderCritical impact
   Continuing to Protect the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship

   The United States policy on birthright citizenship has been updated. This update is in the Presidential Order called 'Continuing to Protect the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship.' New 'General Provisions' were added to Section 5(a). The earlier version of the order ended suddenly. It said, 'Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or '. The updated policy now fully explains this part. It states the order does not limit the power given by law to executive departments or agencies. It also does not limit the work of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The policy also makes clear that the order does not create any rights or benefits that people can legally enforce. It says the Department of Justice must pay for publishing the order. This order started on 6 August 2026. It mainly applies to United States executive departments and agencies.

Timeline

1. Action deadline

   5 Sept 2026

   Heads of all executive departments and agencies shall issue public guidance regarding the implementation of this order within 30 days of 6 August 2026.

2. Announced

   10 Aug 2026

   A recent U.S. District Court decision has temporarily halted a 2025 USCIS policy that limited voter registration at naturalisation ceremonies to government officials. This ruling reinstates an older policy, allowing Non-Governmental Organizations to once again provide voter registration services. USCIS, while disagreeing with the decision, will comply while reviewing next steps.

3. Announced

   6 Aug 2026

   On 6 August 2026, President Trump issued an Executive Order aiming to refine the interpretation of birthright citizenship in the U.S. This order specifies categories of children born to non-citizen parents who will not be recognised as U.S. citizens, focusing on instances involving foreign adversaries, government employees, fraudulent commercial transactions for birth tourism, and births in speci

4. Takes effect

   6 Aug 2026

   The new rule, established by this Executive Order, states that executive departments and agencies shall not issue or accept documents recognising United States citizenship for persons whose parents are neither citizens and fall under specific categories. These categories include children whose parents are foreign enemy aliens (designated terrorists), foreign government employees (ambassadors, emba

5. Takes effect

   28 Jun 2017

   The U.S. District Court reinstated the USCIS Policy Manual version effective 28 June 2017, which permits Non-Governmental Organizations to provide voter registration services at administrative naturalisation ceremonies. The online USCIS Policy Manual will be changed to reflect this.