Libertarian expert denounces Trump's unprecedented birthright citizenship order

In a recent X thread, Cato Institute immigration studies director David J. Bier described President Donald Trump's latest executive order on birthright citizenship as more bizarre than previously recognized. The order mandates agencies to deny citizenship documents to current U.S. citizens if either parent is an "alien enemy" or foreign government employee, without regard to the child's birth circumstances. Unlike an earlier order, this version removes language that limited its reach, making it retroactive to births that occurred before the directive and extending applicability to children of lawful permanent residents.

Bier highlighted the order's ambiguous terminology and a clause that oddly requires children to understand their parents' intent at birth. He argued that the president cannot unilaterally declare certain individuals outside U.S. jurisdiction, labeling the legal theory behind the order as "insane" and warning of potential misuse.