As the February 20 deadline for President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship rapidly approaches, expectant Indian parents in the U.S. are opting for preterm C-sections to ensure their children are born before the cutoff. Under the proposed changes, babies born after February 20 to non-permanent residents will no longer automatically acquire U.S. citizenship, raising fears among immigrant families who have relied on birthright citizenship as a safety net.
In response to this looming deadline, many pregnant women, especially those in their eighth or ninth months, are choosing to deliver their babies early. Some are opting for preterm C-sections to guarantee their children’s citizenship status, even though a few are still weeks away from reaching full term. Dr. SD Rama, who works at a maternity clinic in New Jersey, has witnessed an influx of requests for early deliveries. She recounted a case of a woman, seven months pregnant, who scheduled a C-section to ensure her baby would be born before the deadline. “She’s due in March, and her husband came with her to schedule an early delivery,” Dr. Rama explained.
This rush to deliver before February 20 has spread across the country, as many expectant parents, particularly Indian nationals on temporary visas, seek to safeguard their children’s future. The Trump administration’s proposal to end automatic birthright citizenship marks a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy, and it could affect millions of Indians living and working in the country.
Birthright citizenship, a legal principle granting U.S. citizenship to children born on American soil regardless of their parent’s immigration status, has long been a key protection for immigrant families. However, under the new policy, children born after the deadline will no longer automatically receive citizenship if their parents do not have permanent legal status.
Medical professionals are cautioning couples about the risks associated with preterm births. Dr. SG Mukkala, an obstetrician in Texas, stressed that early deliveries could lead to complications such as underdeveloped lungs, feeding difficulties, low birth weight, and neurological problems. “I’ve had conversations with 15 to 20 couples in the past two days alone, warning them about the risks of preterm births,” Dr. Mukkala said. “Although it’s possible to schedule early deliveries, I try to explain that it poses significant risks for both mother and child.”
For many Indian families working in the U.S. on temporary visas, birthright citizenship has served as a crucial safety net. With green card wait times now exceeding a century, the policy has provided a path for their children to gain permanent status in the country. The recent uncertainty surrounding the policy change has left many parents anxious about the future.
A 28-year-old finance professional, quoted in the report, expressed his concern that his plans could be disrupted if his wife, who is several months pregnant, delivers after the deadline. “We sacrificed so much to come here. Now, it feels like the door is closing on us,” he said, reflecting the anxiety many immigrant families are experiencing as they try to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of U.S. immigration law.
With the February 20 deadline fast approaching, expectant Indian parents in the U.S. are facing difficult decisions in an effort to ensure their children’s future, as the country’s birthright citizenship policy undergoes a dramatic shift.
