La ciudadanía estadounidense por derecho de nacimiento: La nueva orden de Trump y sus desafíos legales

Angelica Rice • January 23, 2025

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El 20 de enero de 2025, el presidente Donald Trump firmó una orden ejecutiva titulada «Proteger el significado y el valor de la ciudadanía estadounidense», cuyo objetivo es poner fin a la ciudadanía por derecho de nacimiento para determinados niños nacidos en Estados Unidos.  Esta orden se dirige específicamente a los niños nacidos de madres en situación ilegal o que se encuentran temporalmente en Estados Unidos con visados, como visados de estudiante, trabajo o turista, si el padre no es ciudadano estadounidense ni residente permanente legal. En virtud de esta nueva política, a estos niños ya no se les concederá automáticamente la ciudadanía estadounidense. La orden entrará en vigor 30 días después de su firma y sólo se aplicará a los nacimientos que se produzcan después de ese periodo, lo que significa que no afectará retroactivamente a los niños nacidos antes de la fecha de entrada en vigor.

Esta orden ejecutiva desafía la interpretación que se viene haciendo desde hace tiempo de la 14ª Enmienda de la Constitución de Estados Unidos, que garantiza la ciudadanía a todas las personas nacidas en suelo estadounidense.  La enmienda establece que «todas las personas nacidas o naturalizadas en Estados Unidos y sujetas a su jurisdicción son ciudadanos de Estados Unidos y del Estado en el que residan». Durante más de un siglo, se ha entendido que esta disposición concede la ciudadanía a la mayoría de las personas nacidas en Estados Unidos, independientemente de la situación migratoria de sus padres.

En respuesta a la orden ejecutiva, grupos de defensa de los derechos de los inmigrantes, entre ellos la Unión Estadounidense por las Libertades Civiles (ACLU por sus siglas en ingles), han presentado demandas que impugnan su constitucionalidad. Sostienen que la orden viola el claro mandato de la 14ª Enmienda y socava los valores fundamentales estadounidenses. Los expertos jurídicos prevén que esta cuestión será impugnada en los tribunales, con la posibilidad de que la orden sea bloqueada o anulada.



El 23 de enero de 2025, un juez federal de Seattle dictó una orden de restricción temporal (OTR), que bloquea la entrada en vigor de la orden ejecutiva durante los próximos 14 días. El tribunal citó posibles violaciones constitucionales y la necesidad de más información jurídica antes de proceder a su aplicación. Esta sentencia proporciona un alivio temporal a las familias afectadas y señala la probabilidad de una batalla legal prolongada. Están previstas nuevas vistas para determinar si la orden se bloquea permanentemente o se permite su aplicación.

Las familias afectadas por esta orden están cada vez más preocupadas por los posibles problemas a los que podrían enfrentarse sus hijos sin la ciudadanía estadounidense. El acceso a los servicios esenciales, la educación y las oportunidades de empleo podría ser más difícil para los afectados. Sin embargo, es importante mantener la esperanza, ya que el sistema legal proporciona controles y equilibrios para garantizar que cualquier acción ejecutiva se ajuste a los principios constitucionales. Históricamente, intentos similares de restringir la ciudadanía por derecho de nacimiento se han enfrentado a importantes desafíos legales y no han sido confirmados.

Si usted o alguien que usted conoce puede ser afectado por esta orden ejecutiva, mantenerse informado y entender sus derechos es crucial. En Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C., nuestros abogados de inmigración de confianza están disponibles para proporcionar orientación y apoyo durante este tiempo incierto, por favor póngase en contacto con nosotros si necesita ayuda.

Este blog no pretende ser una asesoría legal y nada aquí debe interpretarse como el establecimiento de una relación abogado-cliente. Programe una consulta con un abogado de inmigración antes de actuar sobre cualquier información que aquí lea.

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Angelica Rice

DHS Final Rule Eliminating “Duration of Status” (D/S): Practice Tips and Transition Procedures

By Juliana LaMendola • September 3, 2026
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its final rule eliminating the longstanding "duration of status" (D/S) policy for F, J, and I visa holders, replacing it with a fixed period of admission effective September 15, 2026. This rule requires that those who need additional time to complete their programs must file Form I-539 with USCIS or travel abroad and seek to reenter to extend their authorized period of stay. F and J visa holders present in the U.S. and in valid status on September 15, 2026, will be allowed to remain in the United States until the Program End Date listed on their current Form I-20 (for F-1s) or Form DS-2019 (for J-1s), up to a maximum of four years (until September 15, 2030) plus a 60-day grace period for F-1s and a 30-day grace period for J-1s, without filing an Extension of Status request with USCIS. However, this safety net only applies while staying in the U.S.; international travel and subsequent reentry after September 15, 2026 will result in readmission under the new rule with an I-94 that expires on the Program End Date or Employment Authorization Document (EAD) expiration, but no later than four-years after their date of re-entry. Additionally, once re-admitted under the new rules, F-1s will only receive a 30-day grace period. Immediate Practice Tips: Any F-1 or J-1 nonimmigrant currently in the U.S. who plans to change programs, start a new degree level, or needs more time to complete their studies must work with their school or program sponsor to update their SEVIS record and receive an extended Form I-20 or DS-2019 before September 15, 2026. Eligible F-1 students should submit their post-completion OPT or STEM OPT work authorization applications (Form I-765) before September 15, 2026, to secure their status and drastically reduce the likelihood of needing a Form I-539 extension application. Any F-1 student who is eligible to apply for OPT or STEM OPT before March 18, 2027, should do so as soon as they are eligible to file their Form I-765. Since F-1s can file OPT applications up to 90 days in advance of graduation, F-1 students graduating before June 15,2027, should be able to file their OPT applications before March 18, 2027, and should do so to avoid also having to file Form I-539 to extend their stay. Thus, most F-1 students graduating in December 2026 and May/June 2027 should be able to take advantage of the transition rule’s delay in having to file Form I-539 applications and should only need to file Form I-765 to apply for OPT. Incoming F-1 and J-1 students who can enter the United States before the September 15, 2026 effective date (within the permissible 30-day window prior to their program start) should do so to benefit from the transition rules, including the full 60-day F-1 grace period and deferred extension requirements. Students (F-1 and J-1) who are planning international travel should return before the effective date if possible to preserve their transition benefits.  There are many parts of the rule that are not discussed here. If you are currently an F-1 or J-1 visa holder, you should proactively coordinate with your institutions and international office to protect your status and stay informed.

USCIS Issues Updated Guidance on Public Charge Rules

By Kris Quadros-Ragar • August 27, 2026
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released updated policy guidance detailing how officers will evaluate "public charge" inadmissibility for individuals applying for green cards through adjustment of status. This update follows a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) final rule that rescinds the 2022 public charge regulations. The new policy takes effect on September 18, 2026 , and applies to all green card applications (Form I-485) postmarked or submitted on or after that date. Who Is Subject to the Public Charge Rule? Most family-based and employment-based green card applicants will be subject to the public charge ground of inadmissibility. This includes spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, as well as most employment visa preference categories, investors, and diversity visa applicants. Certain categories remain explicitly exempt under immigration law. These include: Asylees and refugees Victims of human trafficking (T visa) or crime (U visa) Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitioners Special Immigrant Juveniles Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants Certain military-related applicants and other designated humanitarian groups How USCIS Will Make Determinations USCIS officers will evaluate whether an applicant is likely to become a public charge by reviewing the totality of their circumstances on a case-by-case basis. Key factors include: Five Statutory Factors: Age, health, family status, assets/financial resources, and education or skills. Affidavit of Support: Submission of Form I-864 executed by a sponsor. Use of Public Benefits: USCIS will look at means-tested public benefits, such as cash assistance for income maintenance, housing assistance, food stamps (SNAP), or college financial aid. Note on timing: For benefits received before September 18, 2026, USCIS will only consider public cash assistance for income maintenance and long-term institutionalization at government expense. For benefits received on or after September 18, 2026, the broader consideration of all listed means-tested benefits will apply. Public Charge Bonds If an officer determines that an applicant is inadmissible solely on public charge grounds, USCIS may issue a Notice of Intent to Deny that invites the applicant to post a public charge bond using Form I-945. If an invited applicant successfully posts the required cash or surety bond, USCIS may approve the application for permanent residence. Public charge bonds can only be submitted if explicitly invited by USCIS. Santos Lloyd Law Firm will continue to monitor immigration developments closely and provide updates as further implementation details are released. For more information, please access: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-issues-guidance-on-making-public-charge-inadmissibility-determination

DHS Drafts Proposal to Remove the 60-Day Grace Period for Select Nonimmigrant Visa Holders

By Kris Quadros-Ragar • August 20, 2026
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering a regulatory proposal that would remove the discretionary 60-day grace period currently available to certain nonimmigrant visa holders (including H-1B, L-1, TN, E, and O-1) and their dependents. The draft rule is currently undergoing interagency review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and has not yet been formally published for public feedback. What This Means Right Now Nothing changes today. The 60-day grace period remains in effect while this rule goes through the approval process. Under current rules, if your job ends early, you have up to 60 days (or until your I-94 expires) to leave the U.S., find a new sponsor, or apply to change status. What Could Change If approved, foreign workers who lose their jobs would no longer get automatic time to find a new employer or change status from within the U.S. They would generally be required to leave the country immediately. Next Steps Once the OMB finishes its initial review, the proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register, opening a public comment period of 30 to 60 days. Based on feedback received during this time, DHS may decide to alter, withdraw, or proceed with the proposal. If the government decides to finalize the rule, the entire process will likely take several months before taking effect. Santos Lloyd Law Firm will continue to monitor developments closely and will share updates on our immigration blog and social media pages as more details emerge.
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