Faced with a looming 20 February deadline for birthright citizenship, many expectant Indian parents in the US are resorting to preterm C-sections, Times of India reported.
An executive order from President Donald Trump, which ends automatic citizenship for babies born to non-permanent residents, has created a sense of urgency among families concerned about their children’s futures.
Dr S D Rama, a maternity clinic operator in the US, noted a sharp rise in requests for preterm deliveries after President Trump announced changes on 20 January to the 14th Amendment, which historically granted citizenship to all individuals “born or naturalized in the United States.”
Indian women, especially those in their eighth or ninth month of pregnancy, are rushing to schedule C-sections before 20 February, the deadline after which babies born to non-permanent residents will no longer automatically qualify for US citizenship.
“A seven months pregnant woman came with her husband to sign up for a preterm delivery. She isn’t due until sometime in March,” Dr Rama was quoted as saying by TOI.
The surge in preterm delivery requests underscores the anxiety among expectant parents.
Dr S G Mukkala, a Texas-based obstetrician and gynecologist, voiced concerns about the health risks posed by preterm births.
“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,” he was quoted as saying by TOI.
He added that he has consulted with 15 to 20 couples about these risks in the past two days alone.
The backdrop of this urgency is the lengthy backlog for green cards, which has left many families feeling vulnerable.
This sense of urgency is compounded by the long waiting period for green cards, leaving many families feeling uncertain.
The impact of the policy is even more severe for undocumented immigrants.
