US moves to restrict birthright citizenship for children of foreign government employees: All you need to know

​Department of Homeland Security issues interim rule on birthright citizenship for foreign government employees/Image: Representative Image Children born in the US to certain foreign government employees could be denied automatic citizenship under a new rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security, widening an exception that has traditionally covered children of foreign diplomats.The interim final rule, issued on September 4, applies when neither parent is a US citizen and at least one parent is a qualifying foreign government employee at the time of the child’s birth.What has changed under the new rule?Federal regulations previously referred specifically to children born to foreign diplomatic officers. DHS has replaced that wording with the broader term “foreign government employee”, extending the category to additional workers connected to foreign governments and international organisations.The change does not automatically affect every child of a foreign national working in the US. It applies only when the parent meets the rule’s definition and neither parent is a US citizen.Who could be covered?The definition includes accredited foreign diplomatic officers, certain embass...