US President Donald Trump took steps on the 6th local time to block so-called "birth tourism," aimed at children acquiring US citizenship.

President Trump held a signing ceremony at the White House on this day and signed an executive order containing these measures.

Regarding the late June ruling by the US Supreme Court that put the brakes on the executive order banning birthright citizenship, President Trump called it a "very regrettable decision," adding, "It is very unfair. That is why we are adjusting (the system)."

Emphasizing the scale of those who benefit from birth tourism, he stated it involves "hundreds of thousands of people."

According to the executive order released by the White House, the purpose of this measure is to prevent the practice of individuals engaging in birth tourism from abusing nonimmigrant visas such as tourist or student visas.

Accordingly, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security were directed to prohibit the entry into the United States of individuals intending to give birth within US territory.

Measures such as entry bans on foreign nationals who previously engaged in birth tourism were also included.

Government-level actions can be taken not only against the parties involved in birth tourism but also against organizations and individuals that facilitate it.

A clause was also included stating that documents recognizing US citizenship cannot be issued for babies born to foreign parents through birth tourism.

This also applies to babies born in the US to diplomatic mission staff, including foreign ambassadors, as well as infants born to individuals classified as belonging to designated terrorist groups or hostile nations.

This executive order is part of the Trump administration's immigration policy to prevent children born to foreign parents who are staying temporarily or illegally in the US from acquiring citizenship.

With the executive order banning birthright citizenship having faced a setback in the Supreme Court, this is interpreted as an intention to maintain policy continuity and showcase achievements to rally the base ahead of the November midterm elections.

This measure also appears targeted at China.

President Trump has repeatedly voiced complaints that wealthy Chinese people use birth tourism to secure US citizenship for their children.

Despite the Supreme Court ruling, as President Trump once again slams the door on acquiring citizenship through birth tourism, Axios projected that lawsuits seeking to invalidate the order are likely to be filed.

However, the White House maintains that this executive order does not conflict with the intent of the Supreme Court ruling.

President Trump signed an executive order banning birthright citizenship around the time of his return to office early last year, but on June 30th, the Supreme Court put the brakes on it, ruling that under the 14th Amendment, children born in the US are automatically granted citizenship.

US media reported that birth tourism has grown into a kind of industry in the US, with agencies helping facilitate birth tourism generating massive profits.

In Florida, a company named "Have Your Baby in Miami" advertised that it supported more than 2,000 instances of birth tourism and is under investigation by the US House of Representatives.

(Produced by SBS Digital News | Reported by JIN Sang-myeong | Video by Hyeju Kim)