On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump took office and immediately set a new course for his administration with a series of sweeping executive orders. These directives, focused on immigration and citizenship, have sparked intense debate and raised significant questions about their impact on American society.
One of the most controversial orders targets birthright citizenship, a cornerstone of US law for over a century. Under the new policy, children born in the US to undocumented parents or those on temporary visas will no longer automatically receive citizenship. Furthermore, these children will be denied US passports 30 days after the order’s implementation.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from advocates who argue it could create a generation of stateless individuals. Supporters, however, see it as a necessary step to curb illegal immigration and strengthen national security. The long-term legal and humanitarian implications of this policy remain unclear, leaving many questions unanswered.
In addition to the birthright citizenship order, the administration has introduced stricter immigration enforcement measures. These include the establishment of Homeland Security Task Forces and enhanced vetting procedures for immigrants. The administration claims these changes will improve national security and ensure more rigorous oversight of immigration processes.
President Trump signed over 200 executive orders on his first day in office, a striking display of his administration’s priorities. One particularly divisive order, titled “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” has drawn widespread criticism for its impact on LGBTQ+ rights.
The order redefines gender in federal policy as strictly male or female, affecting areas such as prison housing and passport issuance. Transgender individuals will no longer be housed in facilities matching their gender identity, a move labeled as discriminatory by advocacy groups. Additionally, the State Department has stopped issuing passports with the “X” gender marker, introduced in 2021 to accommodate non-binary individuals.
This change could affect approximately 1.2 million non-binary Americans, complicating their ability to obtain or renew passports. While existing “X” marker passports remain valid for now, renewals and updates will face new hurdles under the revised rules. Critics argue that this policy marginalizes non-binary individuals and creates unnecessary barriers to essential documentation.
As these executive orders take effect, their long-term consequences remain uncertain. While some applaud the administration’s efforts to enforce stricter immigration and gender policies, others warn of the potential harm to vulnerable communities. The debate over these measures is likely to continue as their effects unfold in the coming months and years.
