A surge in demand for C-sections has been witnessed among Indian couples in the U.S., all aiming to have their children born before February 20. This rush is driven by the looming deadline for a significant shift in U.S. birthright citizenship laws, announced under President Donald Trump’s executive order. Indian families, particularly those on temporary work visas, are scrambling to secure U.S. citizenship for their children, fearing the loss of the right to automatic citizenship once the deadline passes.
The urgency behind the influx of C-section requests is tied to Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship. As per the new directive, children born in the U.S. up until February 19 will still receive automatic American citizenship, but any child born after that date to non-citizen parents will not be granted U.S. citizenship by birth.
The executive order has sparked concern among the Indian community, particularly those working in the U.S. on H-1B or L1 visas. These individuals are not U.S. citizens nor permanent residents (Green Card holders), and under the new rule, their children will not be recognized as U.S. citizens, which was previously guaranteed under birthright citizenship.
Indian couples in the U.S., many of whom are in the long waiting line for Green Cards, are now focusing on ensuring that their children are born before the deadline. One Indian-origin gynecologist from New Jersey, Dr. S.D. Rama, told The Times of India that his clinic had been receiving an unusual number of requests for C-sections, with many women in their eighth or ninth month of pregnancy. Some were even asking for premature deliveries months before their due dates.
Dr. Rama recalled one instance: “A seven months pregnant woman came with her husband to sign up for a preterm delivery. She isn’t due until sometime in March,” he said. This reflects the lengths to which families are willing to go to secure U.S. citizenship for their children.
For many Indian families, the stakes are high. U.S. citizenship for their children represents not only a future of opportunities for the next generation but also a potential pathway to residency for the parents. Children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents can, upon turning 21, sponsor their parents for permanent residency, a prospect that has become more uncertain with the approaching deadline.
Dr. S.G. Mukkala, an obstetrician and gynecologist from Texas, expressed concern about the health risks of premature births, which many of his patients were requesting. “I am trying to tell couples that even if it is possible, a preterm birth poses significant risks to mother and child. Complications include underdeveloped lungs, feeding problems, low birth weight, neurological complications, and more,” he warned.
Despite these risks, the desire for birthright citizenship has led many parents to ignore the potential dangers. On Reddit, many discussed their reasons for pushing ahead with preterm deliveries, despite the concerns raised by doctors. One user wrote, “Obviously the doctors will say if it’s safe or not, and so on. That’s not terrible parenting.”
The situation has sparked wider debates about the implications of Trump’s executive order. One Reddit user, reflecting on the broader picture, remarked, “American dream is a scam. Right now they are processing 2012 EB2/3 for India. Which means typically for people who entered the U.S. in 2007. i.e., if a 22-year-old fresh out of college entered the U.S. in 2007, they will be getting a Green Card around this time. Another 5 years for citizenship. 45 years old to become a citizen. Know what you are signing up for.”
The long wait for Green Cards has been a source of frustration for many Indian families in the U.S. The backlog for Green Cards, particularly for Indian nationals, has reached historic proportions, with estimates suggesting it could take a century to process current applicants. For many, birthright citizenship was seen as a necessary alternative, a guarantee that their children would have a secure future in the U.S. without being subject to the prolonged visa and Green Card delays.
Priya, a woman who is expecting her child in March, expressed her fears: “We were counting on our child being born here. We’ve been waiting for our Green Cards for six years. This was the only way to ensure stability for our family. We are terrified of the uncertainty.”
Her fears were echoed by a 28-year-old finance professional who spoke to The Times of India. “We sacrificed so much to come here. Now, it feels like the door is closing on us,” he said, as he and his wife prepare for the birth of their first child.
For those in the U.S. illegally, the policy change has even graver consequences. One man from California, who entered the U.S. illegally and has lived there for eight years, shared how the new rule has upended his family’s plans. His wife, seven months pregnant, was devastated when they learned that their child would no longer be automatically granted U.S. citizenship. “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,” he said, struggling to comprehend the new reality under the Trump administration.
Some on social media platforms like Reddit, seeing the distress of many, suggested that Indian nationals in the U.S. consider returning to India or relocating to other countries. “Come back to India or relocate to another country,” one user advised, reflecting the sense of uncertainty that has gripped many members of the Indian community in the U.S.
The situation underscores the pressure that the looming February 20 deadline is placing on Indian families. Many are going to great lengths, including opting for preterm births, in the hope that their children can secure U.S. citizenship. The American Dream, which has long symbolized opportunity for immigrants, now faces a new challenge with the Trump administration’s birthright citizenship ban. As the deadline approaches, Indian families are finding themselves in an emotional and practical race against time, hoping to ensure a future for their children before the door to U.S. citizenship closes.