Trump’s State Department Moves to Require Parents to Prove Citizenship for Child Passports

The State Department has drafted new guidance that could significantly change how parents apply for passports for their children, according to reporting published September 1. Under the proposal, parents would be required to provide documentation proving their own U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status before a child’s passport could be issued.

Currently, parents generally establish their relationship to the child, provide identification, and complete the required citizenship attestations. The proposed policy would add documentation such as a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate for citizens, while lawful immigrants could be required to provide records such as a green card or I-94 arrival document.