US, January 23, 2025: Amid President Donald Trump’s executive order aiming to end birthright citizenship as part of his strict anti-immigration policies, many expectant Indian parents in the US are choosing preterm C-sections to deliver their babies before the February 20 deadline.
Women opting for C-sections are primarily in their eighth or ninth month of pregnancy, though a few are still weeks away from reaching full term
Dr SD Rama, who works at a maternity clinic in New Jersey, said she has received many requests for preterm deliveries. “A woman who is seven months pregnant came with her husband to schedule an early delivery. She’s due in March,” she told TOI.
The rush to beat the birthright citizenship deadline is widespread, as babies born after February 20 to non-permanent residents will not automatically receive citizenship.
Ending automatic birthright citizenship is a big change in immigration policy and could affect millions of Indians living in the country on temporary visas.
Birthright citizenship is the legal principle that grants children citizenship based on the country of their birth, regardless of their parents’ nationality or immigration status.
Dr. SG Mukkala, an obstetrician in Texas, warned couples about the risks of preterm births, including underdeveloped lungs, feeding issues, low birth weight, and neurological complications.
Summary: In light of Trump’s impending policy changes, expectant Indian mothers in the US scramble to secure birthright citizenship for their babies before the deadline.