Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Proposal Fuels Desperation Among Expectant Immigrants
New Jersey maternity clinics are witnessing an unprecedented rise in requests for pre-term C-sections from pregnant Indian women, spurred by former President Donald Trump’s January 20th announcement to end birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. The looming February 20 deadline has triggered a wave of anxiety among immigrant families, particularly those on H-1B visas or awaiting green cards, forcing them to consider high-risk deliveries to secure U.S. citizenship for their unborn children.
“We were counting on our child being born here,” said Varun, an H-1B visa holder who, alongside his wife Priya, has been waiting six years for their green card. Priya, due in early March, now faces the heart-wrenching decision of opting for an early C-section despite the risks to her health and that of her child.
Medical professionals are raising alarms over the trend. “A seven-months pregnant woman came with her husband asking to schedule a pre-term delivery,” said one gynecologist. “I’m trying to explain the risks – underdeveloped lungs, low birth weight, and neurological complications – but the fear of missing the deadline is driving them.”
In the last two days alone, one obstetrician reported counseling 15 to 20 couples about the dangers of early delivery.
The policy change has also struck fear among illegal immigrants. Vijay, who has been living in California for eight years, said he and his pregnant wife feel “crushed” by the sudden deadline. “We thought our baby would bring us stability. Now, we don’t know what to do.”
The end of birthright citizenship is particularly devastating for the Indian community, already facing green card backlogs of over a century. For many, the promise of citizenship through childbirth had been a lifeline.
One finance professional summed up the collective frustration: “We sacrificed so much to come here. Now, it feels like the door is closing on us.”
Doctors, meanwhile, are urging calm but acknowledge the fear gripping immigrant families. For many, this “citizenship panic” has redefined what was once the most joyful journey of their lives.
