US passport policy: Trump administration considers new checks on parents’ citizenship status

The US State Department is considering a new passport policy that could require parents and legal guardians to provide proof of their US citizenship or immigration status when applying for passports for children.

The proposed change is part of the administration of US President Donald Trump’s broader effort to implement new restrictions on birthright citizenship and prevent what it describes as “birth tourism”.

Under the proposed guidance, parents applying for a US passport for a child could be required to submit documents establishing their own citizenship or immigration status in the United States. Possible documents could include a valid US passport, birth certificate, immigration records or a permanent resident card.

The proposal, however, is not currently a blanket requirement for all parents applying for children’s passports. The State Department is still considering the guidance, while Trump’s broader birthright-citizenship order is being challenged in court.

The proposed passport checks are linked to Trump’s August 6 executive order, which seeks to prevent the federal government from recognising US citizenship for certain children born in the United States based on the circumstances surrounding their parents’ citizenship or immigration status.

The order specifically addresses situations involving children whose parents fall into certain categories, including some foreign government employees, individuals classified under the order as “alien enemies” and people accused of using commercial arrangements or fraud to obtain birthright citizenship.

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The Trump administration has defended the policy as an effort to protect the meaning and value of American citizenship and to discourage foreign nationals from travelling to the United States primarily to give birth.

If adopted, the proposed passport guidance could give federal officials additional information when determining whether a child falls within the categories affected by the executive order.

That could be particularly significant for families involving foreign nationals, undocumented immigrants, temporary visa holders and US-born children, depending on how the final guidance is written and whether the underlying executive order survives the ongoing legal challenges.

Under existing US passport rules, applicants must generally provide evidence that the child is a US citizen, establish the parent-child relationship and provide acceptable identification. A US birth certificate, valid US passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certificate of Citizenship can serve as evidence of citizenship.

The proposed policy could introduce an additional layer by requiring information about the parents’ citizenship or immigration status, rather than focusing solely on evidence establishing the child’s citizenship.

The development comes amid a major legal battle over Trump’s attempt to alter the interpretation of birthright citizenship in the United States.

On September 2, US District Judge Deborah Boardman issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of Trump’s August 6 order against children covered by a class-action lawsuit. The judge found that the challengers were likely to succeed in their argument that the order was unconstitutional.

The court decision creates another obstacle for the administration as it attempts to implement its new approach to birthright citizenship.

The dispute follows an earlier Supreme Court ruling concerning Trump’s broader attempt to restrict birthright citizenship. The legal battle has left the administration’s proposed changes subject to continuing court proceedings.

For parents, the distinction between the proposed passport policy and existing passport requirements is important.

The State Department has not announced that every parent must now provide proof of immigration status before a child can receive a US passport. Rather, officials are considering whether such documentation should become part of the passport process in cases affected by the administration’s interpretation of the new citizenship order.

The final outcome will depend on both the State Department’s administrative decisions and the courts’ rulings on the constitutionality and enforceability of Trump’s birthright-citizenship policy.

Until new guidance is formally issued and takes effect, families applying for children’s US passports should continue to follow the existing passport requirements and avoid relying on reports suggesting that the proposed parental checks are already universally mandatory.

The issue is expected to remain contentious because any change could affect how the US government determines citizenship for children born in the country and how that citizenship is documented through the passport system.

US passport policy: Trump administration considers new checks on parents’ citizenship status

Bank of America VP, New Mother, Killed in Random Times Square Stabbing

Erin Piacenti, 32, was on her first day back from maternity leave when she was fatally stabbed in an unprovoked attack; suspect with mental health history shot dead by police.

A Bank of America vice-president, Erin Piacenti, has died after she was stabbed in a random attack at Times Square, New York City, on Monday afternoon. The 32-year-old, who lived in Chester, New Jersey, was walking home from work near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue when she was attacked. According to police, she had briefly stopped in front of a street vendor selling sunglasses and caps when the suspect, 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens, approached her.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the attack was “random and unprovoked”. The incident began around 4:24 pm when Cisneros pulled two large knives from a shopping bag near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue. She first approached a 68-year-old man who had just exited the subway and was waiting to cross the street with his wife. The suspect stabbed him in the abdomen in what police described as a random attack. Approximately 20 seconds later, Cisneros walked up Seventh Avenue toward 42nd Street and stabbed Piacenti, also in the abdomen. A local vendor, Aliou Dieye, told The New York Times that he saw the woman in a pink T-shirt approach Piacenti without saying a word and stab her in the stomach.

Witnesses flagged down police officers, who confronted Cisneros near the scene. According to Commissioner Tisch, officers spent about four minutes trying to persuade her to drop the knives. During the standoff, Cisneros told officers: “I’m not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you.” Officers deployed a Taser stun gun, but it was ineffective, and Cisneros continued advancing toward them while swinging the knives. Two officers then fired their service weapons, striking the suspect.

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Both stabbing victims and Cisneros were taken to Bellevue Hospital. Piacenti died from her injuries. The 68-year-old male victim, a tourist from Rhode Island visiting his son, survived and was reported to be in stable condition. Cisneros was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police said Cisneros had a documented mental health history, with police encounters in 2018 and 2019, but no arrest record in New York City. Her brother, Patrick Peralta, told Gothamist she had struggled with psychiatric problems for decades but was not aggressive. She had been taking medication and had been doing better in recent years, working on and off in a legal office. Disturbing social media posts from Cisneros emerged after the attack. In a Facebook post from November 2025, she wrote about “the diminished love of people to the point of stabbing others for no reason.”

Piacenti worked as Vice President of Business Selection and Conflicts in Bank of America’s Manhattan office at One Bryant Park, just blocks from the attack. According to her LinkedIn profile, she had joined the bank approximately 18 months ago. She had recently returned to work after maternity leave and was on her first day back when she was killed. She and her husband, Frank, had welcomed a baby girl five months earlier. Four days before the attack, she shared a photo on social media of herself with her newborn daughter and husband, expressing gratitude for her maternity leave. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016 and earned her law degree from Fordham Law School in 2021.

Bank of America confirmed Piacenti’s death in a statement: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague. She was a valued teammate who will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to her family and all of her loved ones.” Matthew Koder, the bank’s President of Global Corporate & Investment Banking, described Piacenti as a “cherished teammate and friend” in an internal memo, adding that “her loss is being felt deeply by many.”

Bank of America VP, New Mother, Killed in Random Times Square Stabbing

Iran retaliates against US targets after strikes reportedly kill civilians at wedding

Iran has launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks against US-linked military targets across the Middle East following new American strikes on Iranian military facilities that Iranian authorities said killed civilians, including people attending a wedding.

The latest exchange has sharply escalated tensions between Iran and the United States, with Iranian forces targeting American interests in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq on Wednesday.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched a heavy ballistic missile attack against US military bases in Jordan, while Iranian state media reported drone attacks targeting a US base in Bahrain.

Jordan’s armed forces said its air-defence systems responded to 13 ballistic missiles that entered the country’s airspace. Ten were intercepted, while three landed in remote areas, according to initial reports.

Two US officials also told Reuters that initial assessments indicated there were no casualties from the Iranian attack on US facilities in Jordan.

Bahrain said its forces intercepted and destroyed Iranian drones, while Kuwait reported that its air-defence systems were responding to a hostile drone attack.

In Iraq’s Kurdistan region, the IRGC said it carried out combined missile and drone strikes against US bases in Erbil. Iranian authorities claimed the attacks destroyed a maintenance centre, warehouses and other military equipment.

The claims concerning the extent of damage and possible casualties in Iraq had not been independently verified.

The Iranian retaliation came after the US military conducted a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets on Tuesday.

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The US Central Command said its forces struck IRGC air-defence systems, radar sites, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications facilities.

According to the US military, the operation was aimed at degrading Iranian military capabilities that could be used to threaten American forces and commercial shipping.

The strikes followed renewed tensions around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, where Washington has accused Iran of attempting to lay sea mines and attacking US military positions.

Iran, however, condemned the American operation and accused Washington of causing civilian casualties.

The Iranian Red Crescent said five people were killed and about 50 others wounded after shrapnel from a US missile struck a home where a wedding celebration was taking place near Sirik in Hormozgan province.

Iranian media reported that a four-year-old child was among those killed, while Iran’s official IRNA news agency, citing a provincial official, said 68 people were wounded.

IRNA separately reported that seven people were killed and eight others injured in US missile strikes on three locations in Khuzestan province.

The reported casualties have not been independently verified.

The US military has also not acknowledged deliberately targeting the wedding gathering.

CENTCOM spokesman Tim Hawkins said the US military does not target civilians, maintaining that American operations are directed against military objectives.

The conflicting accounts have made the reported wedding strike one of the most contentious issues arising from the latest US-Iran confrontation.

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Iran has presented the incident as evidence of the civilian consequences of American military operations, while Washington maintains that its campaign is focused on Iranian military infrastructure.

The latest confrontation is closely linked to the growing crisis around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.

The waterway is one of the world’s most important energy routes, with roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies passing through it under normal circumstances.

The security situation has deteriorated significantly since the conflict intensified, with shipping companies becoming increasingly cautious about sending vessels through the strait.

Recent shipping data showed a sharp decline in the number of commercial vessels transiting the waterway, reflecting concerns over missile attacks, sea mines and the wider military confrontation.

The situation has raised fears of a major disruption to global oil supplies, particularly if Iran attempts to restrict shipping through the strait.

Iran has repeatedly warned that if it is prevented from exporting its own crude oil, it could take measures that would affect other oil exports from the Gulf.

Any prolonged disruption could send crude oil prices significantly higher and increase fuel, transportation and electricity costs in countries that depend on Middle Eastern energy supplies.

The impact is already being felt in energy markets, with oil prices rising sharply as traders assess the risk of further disruption.

The crisis could also affect liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies from major producers in the Gulf, adding further pressure to international energy markets.

The latest Iranian attacks came despite a strong warning from US President Donald Trump, who had threatened Tehran with a more severe response if Iran attacked American personnel or interests.

Trump warned that the next US response could come at a “much harder and higher level” and said an even larger attack was “waiting in the wings”.

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Iran nevertheless proceeded with its retaliation.

Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari warned that countries supporting or facilitating US military operations could also face Iranian attacks.

He said countries cooperating with Washington should expect what he described as “more severe, more widespread and destructive responses”.

The warning has increased concerns among countries that host US military bases across the Middle East.

American forces maintain a significant military presence in countries including Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Several of those countries have attempted to avoid becoming direct participants in the conflict while maintaining security cooperation with Washington.

The Iranian attacks nevertheless demonstrate the difficulty of keeping the conflict contained once missiles and drones begin targeting US military facilities across multiple countries.

The latest confrontation also highlights the military capabilities available to both sides.

Iran continues to possess a large arsenal of ballistic missiles and drones, allowing it to strike targets across much of the Middle East.

The United States, meanwhile, maintains substantial air and naval capabilities in the region and has increasingly focused its attacks on Iran’s air-defence systems, radar networks, maritime infrastructure and missile-related capabilities.

The result has been a dangerous cycle of escalation.

The US carries out strikes against Iranian military targets, Iran retaliates against US-linked facilities, Washington threatens a stronger response, and Tehran warns that it will expand its attacks if American operations continue.

The possibility of the confrontation spreading further has raised concerns among governments across the Middle East.

Countries hosting American troops face the difficult task of protecting their populations and infrastructure while avoiding direct involvement in the conflict.

The humanitarian consequences are also becoming increasingly serious.

Iranian authorities have reported civilian deaths and injuries from US strikes, while governments in countries targeted by Iran have had to activate air-defence systems to intercept incoming missiles and drones.

Even when most incoming weapons are intercepted, the threat creates risks for civilians living near military facilities and other strategic targets.

The conflict is also placing additional pressure on an already fragile regional economy.

A prolonged crisis around the Strait of Hormuz could increase shipping insurance premiums, disrupt supply chains and raise the cost of crude oil and natural gas.

For countries heavily dependent on imported petroleum products, higher international oil prices could translate into increased fuel prices and inflation.

The consequences could extend beyond the Middle East if the disruption becomes prolonged.

The latest escalation has also complicated diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing a wider war.

Neither Washington nor Tehran appears willing to back down, with both sides presenting their military actions as necessary responses to threats posed by the other.

The United States says it is defending its forces and protecting commercial shipping, while Iran maintains that it is responding to American aggression and defending its sovereignty.

The reported civilian deaths at the wedding in southern Iran have added an emotional and political dimension to the conflict that could make de-escalation more difficult.

Iranian officials are likely to use the reported incident to strengthen domestic support for retaliation, while Washington is expected to maintain that its military operations are directed at Iranian military capabilities rather than civilians.

The immediate concern is whether the latest exchange will remain limited or trigger a broader regional war involving Iran, the United States and their respective allies.

With US military personnel stationed across the Gulf and Iran capable of launching missiles and drones against targets throughout the region, any miscalculation could rapidly widen the conflict.

For now, Tehran has demonstrated that it is prepared to retaliate despite Washington’s warnings, while US President Donald Trump has signalled that the United States is prepared to escalate further if American forces or interests are attacked.

The renewed fighting has therefore left the Middle East facing another period of heightened uncertainty, with civilian casualties, attacks on military bases, threats to shipping and rising oil prices all adding to concerns about where the conflict goes next.

Iran retaliates against US targets after strikes reportedly kill civilians at wedding