Birthright citizenship order: ‘Terrified’ Indian parents queue for urgent C-sections as Trump’s Feb 19 deadline nears

As the deadline for President Donald Trump's executive order ending the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship regardless of the parents' immigration status approaches, Indian parents in the United States are huddling to dial up doctors and lining up at maternity clinics to schedule a C-section for preterm births.

Hours after taking oath as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump signed a new executive order to block automatic birthright citizenship for children of people where neither parent is a citizen or lawful permanent resident in the country.

However, on Thursday, a federal judge temporarily blocked US President Donald Trump's administration from implementing the executive order curtailing the right to automatic birthright citizenship in the United States. The judge called the order "blatantly unconstitutional."

Donald Trump’s birthright citizen order challenges a long-held interpretation of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, which promises citizenship to any child born on American soil – this law excludes children of foreign diplomats.

So when Donald Trump's order comes into effect, the children born to non-citizen couples after February 19 will not be considered American citizens. The order also ends automatic birthright citizenship for children of people who are in the US legally but only temporarily, such as tourists, students, and those on work visas.

How the new order will impact H-1B and L-1 visa holders?

The new birthright citizenship order is expected to impact thousands of Indian parents. Many hold H-1B and L-1 visas; many are even in the queue for Green Cards to become American citizens. Some parents were hoping that their children's US citizenship could serve as a pathway to their own residency in the country. 

Also Read | What is US birthright citizenship and how Donald Trump’s executive order could impact millions — Explained in 5 points

This is the reason many parents are rushing to maternity clinics to have their babies delivered via C-section before February 19, when the new birthright citizenship order comes into effect.

Indian-origin Priya, who was expected to give birth in March, told TOI, “We were counting on our child being born here. We’ve 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.”

Dr SG Mukkala, an obstetrician in Texas, has tried informing couples of the risks a preterm birth could have on a kid's life.

“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. In the past two days, I have spoken to 15 to 20 couples regarding this,” the TOI report quoted the doctor as saying.

Dr SD Rama from New Jersey said she had been receiving an unusual number of calls for C-sections. “A seven-month pregnant woman came with her husband to sign up for a preterm delivery. She isn’t due until sometime in March,” she said.