https://www.myjoyonline.com/implication-of-trumps-birthright-citizenship-order-for-ghana-and-africans/-------https://www.myjoyonline.com/implication-of-trumps-birthright-citizenship-order-for-ghana-and-africans/

It was a brisk winter afternoon in Washington, D.C., as President Donald Trump, clad in his signature dark suit and tie, sat behind the resolute desk in the Oval Office.

Flanked by his advisors and under the gaze of the gathered press, the 45th US President signed an executive order that could fundamentally reshape America’s immigration and citizenship landscape.

With a flourish, the document was among some bearing his signature was raised for the cameras, signaling a shift in U.S. citizenship policy and diplomacy.

“That’s a big one,” he said as he signed the document on December 20.

“It’s ridiculous, we’re the only country in the world that does this with birthrights as you know. It is just absolutely ridiculous… I think we have very good grounds. People have wanted to do this for decades” he told pressmen.

The executive order seeks to redefine birthright citizenship by limiting its application to children born to certain categories of parents. It builds upon a specific interpretation of the US' Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to those “born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.”

The directive excludes individuals whose parents were either unlawfully present in the U.S. or in the country temporarily at the time of their birth, unless at least one parent was a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

This policy has far-reaching consequences for African immigrants in the United States and their families.

Historically, many Africans seeking better opportunities have entered the U.S. on temporary visas or faced challenges obtaining permanent residency. For these individuals, the new order raises serious questions about their children’s citizenship status if born in the United States.

For example, Ghana ranks 9th globally for sending students to the United States as of the end of 2024.

If one of the of 9,394 Ghanaians studying on the U.S on a student visa gives birth during her stay, she may now find her child excluded from automatic citizenship.

With Nigerian student enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities also rising to 20,029, your guess is as good as mine with regards to what this means for West Africa alone.

Similarly, children born to undocumented African immigrants many of whom have fled economic hardship, political instability, or conflict, could also be denied this critical pathway to American identity and its associated benefits.

Accra, Ghana

The policy has sparked intense debate globally. Critics argue that it undermines the spirit of inclusion and unfairly targets vulnerable communities. They note that the order draws a line between legal and moral interpretations of “jurisdiction,” raising questions about its alignment with US Constitutional principles.

But there is an interesting twist to how some Africans are reacting to this. A section of them sees it as a middle deserving middle finger to politicians and elites in their home countries who weaponize the modality to flee accountability when they can.

Take the recent Ghana election for example. In the tense lead-up to the just-ended December poll, the U.S. Embassy in Ghana warned that politicians inciting violence would face visa restrictions, extending these penalties to their family members.

Many viewed this as a necessary step to hold political elites accountable, particularly those who use foreign privileges to shield their families while fostering instability at home.

These foreign privileges, often secured through the very modality that Trump seeks to eliminate, have long been a source of frustration for ordinary citizens.

The embassy’s stern warning resonated with many Ghanaians, who frequently witness their leaders exploit dual citizenship and foreign privileges to evade accountability.

This sentiment has gained traction on social media, with many believing it will encourage pride in developing one’s home country.

The reaction is similar among some Nigerians as well.

A social media Tobi Akinbo shared that: "Nigerian politicians who send their kids to America to give birth and then loot public funds in their name will see this as an attack."

Proponents, however, insist that the policy is necessary to prevent “birth tourism” and ensure that U.S. citizenship is reserved for those with a deeper connection to the country.

President Trump described the order as a means of “protecting the sanctity of American citizenship” during remarks after its signing.

The move could affect U.S.-Africa relations, particularly as African leaders increasingly view their diasporas as vital to economic and social development back home.

Ghana, for instance, has actively courted its diaspora through initiatives like the 'Year of Return' and its 'Beyond the Return' strategy.

Restricting citizenship for African-descended children born in the U.S. could complicate these efforts and diminish the role of African-Americans in fostering bilateral ties.

The order, set to take effect 30 days after its signing, has already sparked intense legal and political debate.

Advocacy groups are preparing to challenge its constitutionality, and protests have erupted in cities with significant immigrant populations. For many Ghanaians and Africans in the U.S., the uncertainty surrounding this order has cast a shadow over their pursuit of the so-called American Dream.

Read the full Executive Order HERE.


The author, Kenneth Awotwe Darko is a multimedia journalist, tech, culture enthusiast and social media analyst.

Follow him on Twitter via @TheKennethDarko and on Facebook, Kenneth Awotwe Darko.

Email: Kenneth.darko@myjoyonline.com


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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.