Trump Pivots to Congress and DOJ Crackdown After Supreme Court Defeat

The White House is now pressing lawmakers to pass legislation that would end automatic citizenship for children born in the United States to non-citizens, a move that comes days after the Supreme Court invalidated an executive order seeking the same result.

In parallel, the administration has instructed the Department of Justice to prioritize criminal cases against operators of so-called birth tourism agencies, which arrange travel for pregnant foreign nationals to give birth on U.S. soil.

Federal prosecutors in districts with high volumes of such cases, including Southern California and New York, have been told to expedite investigations and bring charges under existing visa fraud and conspiracy statutes.

Legal experts note that while the legislative path faces steep odds in a divided Congress, the DOJ crackdown can proceed without new laws, relying on current prohibitions against making false statements on visa applications.

Administration officials say the dual approach is designed to deter the practice even if Congress fails to act, with the first wave of indictments expected within weeks.