New Executive Order Bans These Passports in the US
On January 20, 2025, mere moments after taking the oath of office, President Donald Trump unveiled a bold and highly controversial immigration plan, setting the stage for a dramatic new chapter in U.S. policy.

The newly inaugurated president set sweeping changes in motion for U.S. immigration policy through a series of far-reaching executive orders. Among the most attention-grabbing measures was an unprecedented challenge to birthright citizenship.
In what is arguably the most controversial directive, government agencies have been ordered to deny citizenship to children born in the United States unless their parents meet specific eligibility criteria—marking a dramatic shift from long-standing legal principles.

Specifically, the new directive denies citizenship to children born in the U.S. if their mothers are undocumented or on temporary visas and their fathers are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents.
Furthermore, 30 days after the order takes effect, these children will also be barred from obtaining U.S. passports, effectively restricting their ability to enter the country.

However, the full implications of this policy remain uncertain, leaving the legal status of these newborns in question. Critics warn that it could create a stateless generation, sparking intense legal battles over the decree’s legitimacy and its broader humanitarian impact.
Task Forces and Stricter Vetting Measures
Alongside the birthright citizenship directive, the administration has also issued additional executive orders aimed at ramping up immigration enforcement. These measures introduce new task forces and enhanced vetting procedures, signaling a more aggressive approach to border security and immigration control.

These directives include the creation of “Homeland Security Task Forces” and the introduction of stricter screening protocols for immigrants. The administration asserts that these measures are designed to bolster national security and impose tighter government oversight on immigration pathways.
A Surge in Executive Orders
In a striking display of executive power, President Donald Trump reportedly signed over 200 executive orders in a single day, according to BBC News. Unlike traditional legislation, executive orders allow the president to bypass Congress, enabling sweeping policy shifts with the stroke of a pen.
One of the most controversial orders, provocatively titled “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” has sparked heated debate, further underscoring the administration’s aggressive policy agenda.

Because this legislation seeks to redefine gender in federal policy strictly as male and female, it immediately sparked controversy upon its introduction.
Key Changes Under the Executive Order
- Prison Policies: Transgender individuals will no longer be housed in women’s prisons. While the administration framed this as reinforcing “biological truth,” LGBTQ+ organizations have strongly condemned it as discriminatory and harmful.
- Non-Binary Passports: The order also targets non-binary Americans, specifically by eliminating the option for non-binary gender markers on U.S. passports, effectively revoking recognition of gender identities beyond male and female in federal documentation.

An End to “X” Markers and a Return to Binary
Effective immediately, the U.S. Department of State has banned all passport applications featuring the “X” gender identifier, which was first introduced in October 2021. This policy change could impact approximately 1.2 million non-binary Americans who rely on the designation for accurate identification.
Reaffirming the administration’s stance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in an email obtained by The Guardian, “The policy of the United States is that an individual’s sex is not changeable.”
Following Rubio’s directive, State Department staff were ordered to halt all applications requesting an “X” marker or any other gender marker modifications, effectively removing federal recognition for individuals who do not identify as strictly male or female.

Uncertain Future for Existing “X” Passports
While existing passports with the “X” gender marker will remain valid for now, renewal and update processes are expected to become significantly more complicated under the new regulations.
Critics warn that this policy shift could leave many non-binary Americans stranded without valid travel documents in the near future, creating serious obstacles for those who rely on accurate identification for international travel, employment, and legal recognition.