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- Jan 24, 2024
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An executive order signed by US President Donald Trump, set to revoke birthright citizenship after Feb 20, has sparked a rush among Indian couples in the US to deliver their babies early, according to Indian media reports.
Indian media outlets have reported that many Indian expectant mothers in the US are requesting preterm caesarean sections – surgical procedures to deliver a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus – in a bid to secure automatic citizenship for their children before the policy change takes effect, if the move is finalised.
The policy change means children born in the US after Feb 20 will no longer automatically qualify for citizenship if their parents are non-citizens or are in the country temporarily, such as on student or tourist visas.
On Jan 23, a federal judge in Seattle blocked Mr Trump’s executive order, deeming it “blatantly unconstitutional”.
Birthright citizenship, guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution since 1868, ensures that anyone born on US soil is granted citizenship.
Mr Trump’s new order has created significant uncertainty for many foreign families, particularly those on temporary work visas. These individuals often face lengthy waits for their permanent resident card, also known as Green Card, with some estimates projecting backlogs of more than a century.
The fear of losing this opportunity has led some Indian couples in the US to seek early caesarean sections to ensure their children are born before Feb 20.
Dr S. D. Rama, who runs a maternity clinic in New Jersey, described an unusual increase in requests for preterm deliveries. “A seven months pregnant woman came with her husband to sign up for a preterm delivery. She isn’t due until sometime in March,” Dr Rama told The Times of India.
Dr S. G. Mukkala, a Texas-based obstetrician and gynaecologist, said he has fielded similar inquiries from around 20 couples in just two days. While understanding their urgency, Dr Mukkala warned about the dangers of premature births.
“I am trying to tell couples that even if it is possible, a preterm birth poses significant risk to mother and child. Complications include underdeveloped lungs, feeding problems, low birth weight, neurological complications, and more,” he told The Times of India.
For Indian families, having a child born in the US has long been seen as a path to security, as American-born children can sponsor their parents for residency after turning 21.
Priya, an expectant mother due in March, voiced her fears. “We were counting on our child being born here. We’ve been waiting for our Green Card for six years. This was the only way to ensure stability for our family. We are terrified of the uncertainty,” she told The Times of India.
Meanwhile, the possibility of a Feb 20 birthright citizenship cut-off has sparked a broader conversation online. Some empathise with the parents’ difficult decisions, while others suggest returning to India. “Come back to India or relocate to another country,” one Reddit user wrote.
The possibility of a policy shift has placed the American Dream under renewed scrutiny. As another Reddit user commented: “The American Dream is a scam.”
Indian media outlets have reported that many Indian expectant mothers in the US are requesting preterm caesarean sections – surgical procedures to deliver a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus – in a bid to secure automatic citizenship for their children before the policy change takes effect, if the move is finalised.
The policy change means children born in the US after Feb 20 will no longer automatically qualify for citizenship if their parents are non-citizens or are in the country temporarily, such as on student or tourist visas.
On Jan 23, a federal judge in Seattle blocked Mr Trump’s executive order, deeming it “blatantly unconstitutional”.
Birthright citizenship, guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution since 1868, ensures that anyone born on US soil is granted citizenship.
Mr Trump’s new order has created significant uncertainty for many foreign families, particularly those on temporary work visas. These individuals often face lengthy waits for their permanent resident card, also known as Green Card, with some estimates projecting backlogs of more than a century.
The fear of losing this opportunity has led some Indian couples in the US to seek early caesarean sections to ensure their children are born before Feb 20.
Dr S. D. Rama, who runs a maternity clinic in New Jersey, described an unusual increase in requests for preterm deliveries. “A seven months pregnant woman came with her husband to sign up for a preterm delivery. She isn’t due until sometime in March,” Dr Rama told The Times of India.
Dr S. G. Mukkala, a Texas-based obstetrician and gynaecologist, said he has fielded similar inquiries from around 20 couples in just two days. While understanding their urgency, Dr Mukkala warned about the dangers of premature births.
“I am trying to tell couples that even if it is possible, a preterm birth poses significant risk to mother and child. Complications include underdeveloped lungs, feeding problems, low birth weight, neurological complications, and more,” he told The Times of India.
For Indian families, having a child born in the US has long been seen as a path to security, as American-born children can sponsor their parents for residency after turning 21.
Priya, an expectant mother due in March, voiced her fears. “We were counting on our child being born here. We’ve been waiting for our Green Card for six years. This was the only way to ensure stability for our family. We are terrified of the uncertainty,” she told The Times of India.
Meanwhile, the possibility of a Feb 20 birthright citizenship cut-off has sparked a broader conversation online. Some empathise with the parents’ difficult decisions, while others suggest returning to India. “Come back to India or relocate to another country,” one Reddit user wrote.
The possibility of a policy shift has placed the American Dream under renewed scrutiny. As another Reddit user commented: “The American Dream is a scam.”
