Rush for preterm babies to beat birthright citizenship deadline

Rush for preterm babies to beat birthright citizenship deadline 

Increasing numbers of Indian pregnant women in New Jersey are requesting pre-term C-sections due to Trump's announcement on ending birthright citizenship. Despite the risk to mother and child, many feel this is their only chance for stability, particularly those waiting for green cards. The policy change has severe implications for illegal immigrants and H-1B visa holders alike.

HYDERABAD: 23.01.2025

C-section in the US has a new trigger: citizenship pangs. At a maternity clinic in New Jersey, Dr S D Rama has been fielding an unusually high number of requests for pre-term delivery since President Donald Trumpʼs Jan 20 proclamation about termination of birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. 

The majority of those dialling Rama or queuing up at her clinic are Indian women in their eighth or ninth month of pregnancy, all asking for C-sections to be scheduled before Feb 20. A few are still a couple of months away from full term.

 “A seven months pregnant woman came with her husband to sign up for a preterm delivery. She isnʼt due until sometime in March,” Rama told TOI from New Jersey on Wednesday. The desperation to beat the birthright citizenship deadline — babies born Feb 20 onwards to those who arenʼt permanent residents wonʼt be automatically entitled to citizenship — is apparently widespread. “

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,” said Dr S G Mukkala, an obstetrician and gynaecologist in Texas. “In the past two days, I have spoken to 15 to 20 couples regarding this.” With the backlog for green cards stretching to over a century now, birthright citizenship was a safety net for many expectant couples, especially Indians working in the US. “We were counting on our child being born here,” said Varun, who along with his wife Priya (names changed) moved to the US eight years ago on H-1B visas. “We ʼve been waiting for our green cards for six years. This was the only way to ensure stability for our family. We are terried of the uncertainty.” Priya, 34, is due to give birth in early March.

A 28-year-old finance professional said his plans would go haywire if his dependant wife were to give birth to their first child after the deadline. “We  sacrificed so much to come here. Now, it feels like the door is closing on us,” the H-1B holder said, still a few months away from parenthood. For illegal immigrants, the change in policy has even stronger ramifications. California-based Vijay (name changed), who has been living in the US for eight years since entering the country illegally, said he and his seven months pregnant wife were “crushed” by the news of the Trump administration enforcing the deadline so soon. 

“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.”