The new executive order challenges the 14th Amendment, leaving thousands of immigrant families scrambling to secure U.S. citizenship for their unborn children.
January 24, 2025: “Indian Parents Rush for Early Deliveries Ahead of Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Deadline”
As President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order ending birthright citizenship takes effect on February 19, panic has set in among Indian parents in the United States. Many, holding H-1B or L1 visas, are rushing to schedule C-section deliveries ahead of the deadline in a bid to ensure their children are born with U.S. citizenship.
Also Read: Citizenship Order Blocked by Federal Judge: Calls It “Blatantly Unconstitutional”
Signed shortly after Trump took office as the 47th President, the order challenges the long-standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to all children born on U.S. soil—except those born to foreign diplomats. The new rule blocks automatic citizenship for children born to parents who are in the U.S. illegally and even extends to those in the country legally on temporary visas, such as tourists, students, and work visa holders.
Uncertain Futures for Indian Families
The order has sent shockwaves through the Indian community in the U.S., where many parents on work visas were relying on their children’s American citizenship as a potential pathway to residency and stability. Priya, an expectant mother originally due in March, expressed her fears: “We’ve been waiting for our green cards for six years. Our child being born here was the only way we could ensure a stable future for our family. Now, we are terrified of the uncertainty.”
Also Read: Trump’s Executive Order Ends Citizenship by Birth for Legal Immigrants
Doctors Urge Caution
Obstetricians across the country have reported a surge in requests for preterm deliveries. Dr. SG Mukkala, an obstetrician in Texas, revealed he has spoken to 15–20 couples in the past two days. “I am trying to tell them that preterm births come with significant risks for both the mother and child, including underdeveloped lungs, low birth weight, and neurological complications,” he explained.
Similarly, Dr. SD Rama, based in New Jersey, shared an alarming incident: “A seven-months-pregnant woman and her husband came to request an early delivery. She isn’t due until March, but they were desperate to ensure their child’s citizenship before the deadline.”
Implications of the New Policy
Trump’s executive order has sparked widespread concern, especially among the thousands of Indian families awaiting Green Cards. Experts predict that the new policy will have a profound impact on immigration, reshaping how temporary visa holders approach family planning in the U.S.
With doctors and parents caught in this unprecedented situation, the February 19 deadline has become a ticking clock for many families, highlighting the human cost of sweeping immigration reforms.
Tags:
Birthright citizenship, Trump executive order, Indian parents in the US, H-1B visa holders, C-section surge, immigration policy, 14th Amendment, Green Card applicants