Following US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, many Indian couples were concerned about the changes made in the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to all persons “born or naturalised in the United States”. Many expectant parents, in this time-sensitive situation, are pushed to go for preterm C-sections to compete with the February 20 deadline for birthright citizenship.
The rush stems from the fact that the children born before that date will be granted citizenship, while those born after the deadline will not be getting unless a key condition is met.
As per the sole condition, one of the parents has to be a citizen or a green card holder. If not, the child will lose its citizenship after 21.
Dr S D Rama, a maternity clinic operator in New Jersey, reported a spike in the number of requests for pre-term delivery after Trump’s inauguration on January 20 for the termination of birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment.
“A seven-month pregnant woman came with her husband to sign up for a preterm delivery. She is not due until sometime in March,” Rama said on Wednesday.
A report stated that the majority of Indian women, specifically the ones in the eighth or ninth month of their pregnancy, are dialling or lining up outside their clinic.
‘They are all urging for a scheduled C-section before February 20. A few still being a couple of months away from their full term’, the report added.
Another gynaecologist, Dr S G Mukkala, owning a clinic in Texas, also expressed his concerns. “I am trying to tell couples that even if it is possible, a preterm birth poses a considerable amount of risk to mother and child. Complications include underdeveloped lungs, feeding problems, low birth weight, neurological complications and more,” Mukkala noted.
“In the past two days, I have spoken to 15 to 20 couples regarding this,” he added.
“Birthright Citizenship: A Safety Net For Indian Couples”
With the green card backlog extending for over a century, birthright citizenship became a safety net for many expectant couples, particularly Indians working in the US on H-1B or L1 visas.
However, post Trump’s decision, the doors seem to shut slowly.
Varun, an immigrant, along with his wife Priya (names changed) moved to the US eight years ago, said, “We were counting on our child being born here. We have been waiting for our green cards for six years. This was the only way to ensure stability for our family. We are terrified of the uncertainty.”
Another H-1B visa holder, a 28-year-old finance professional, expressed that his plans would be hay fire in case her wife delivered a baby post-deadline. “We sacrificed so much to come here. Now, it feels like the door is closing on us,” he said. He is still a few months away from parenthood.
“Trump’s Plan Can Harm Indian-Origin Children”
The impact will be on the children of Indians living on work visas, who will either have to leave the country or apply for a visa to stay in the US.
In one of his speeches, Trump had recognised the major shifts: “I don’t want to break up families. The only way you don’t… (is by) sending them all back.”
For illegal immigrants, the changes in the policy carry consequences.
Vijay (name changed), a California resident who has lived in the United States illegally for eight years, said, “We thought of seeking asylum, but then my wife got pregnant and our lawyer suggested that we get direct citizenship through our child. Now, we are all at sea.”
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