The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that a birth certificate alone will no longer be enough to prove U.S. citizenship for children born after the implementation of President Trump’s upcoming executive order (EO) on birthright citizenship. Under the EO, only children born to at least one U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder) will qualify for automatic U.S. citizenship. This exclusion applies to children of temporary visa holders (such as H-1B or F-1) and undocumented immigrants.

To get a Social Security Number (SSN), applicants born after the EO will need to show a U.S. birth certificate, plus proof that at least one parent was a U.S. citizen or held lawful immigration status at the time of birth.

Accepted Parental Proof Includes:

• U.S. passport
• Certificate of citizenship/naturalization
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Green Card (Form I-551)
• Valid visa records or federal documentation confirming legal status

SSA will update its manuals to enforce these new requirements once the EO takes effect. The Department of State and USCIS are also preparing implementation plans. Note that the courts have not yet ruled on this EO, but federal agencies are already preparing. Families with children born in the U.S. after the EO’s activation must be ready to prove parents’ immigration or citizenship status to claim their child’s U.S. citizenship.