American President Donald Trump, on Monday night, signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to illegal or visa-holding parents.

The order was signed at the White House nearly eight hours after his inauguration as the 47th president. The order is to take effect 30 days after the signing.

For a long time, U.S. citizenship has been acquired by the person’s birth in the United States territory or because at least one of their parents was an American citizen at the time of the person’s birth.

However, Mr Trump said there should be tougher standards for American citizenship, citing abuse of birthright citizenship.

However, the executive order will likely spark legal debates as the Supreme Court had ruled, under the 14th Amendment, that children born in the U.S. to foreign parents are American citizens.

Meanwhile, less than two hours after Mr Trump signed the executive order, immigrant rights advocates have filed lawsuits in the federal court in New Hampshire.