Trump's Citizenship Order Stirs Anxiety Among Expecting Indian Immigrant Parents

Anticipating the birth of their first child, Indian immigrant parents navigate complex and shifting immigration laws.

Neha Satpute and Akshay Pise, a tech-savvy couple residing in San Jose, California, eagerly awaited the arrival of their first child, expected on February 26. Having dedicated over a decade of their lives to work in the US on H-1B visas, they were optimistic about their child being born an American citizen. However, recent announcements from President Donald Trump have doused their enthusiasm. The new rule, which proposes denying automatic citizenship to children born to temporary foreign workers, has sparked fear and confusion among many expectant parents in similar situations.

Though a federal judge has imposed a temporary block on the order, uncertainty still looms. “If the order takes effect, we don’t know what comes next – it’s uncharted territory,” remarked Akshay, highlighting the anxiety that has gripped families like theirs. New York-based immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta confirmed their fears, stating, “US law has no provision for granting non-immigrant status to a person born here.”

With the due date approaching, the couple sought medical advice concerning an early delivery. Despite suggestions for induction, Neha emphasized the need for a natural process, prioritizing her health and the wellbeing of their child above citizenship concerns. Dr. Satheesh Kathula, president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, echoed the sentiment, voicing concerns over the unethical nature of seeking C-sections solely for citizenship purposes - a practice that is largely frowned upon by medical professionals.

The implications of Trump’s order extend far beyond Akshay and Neha, potentially impacting millions of Indian nationals in the US. Currently, Indian nationals waiting for green cards represent a significant backlog, prompting fears that enforcement of the new rule would strip citizenship rights from their future children. Immigration policy analyst Sneha Puri elaborated on the severity of the issue: “If enforced, none of their future US-born children would get citizenship.”

Online forums have burgeoned with expectant parents voicing their apprehensions. While Trump’s order ostensibly excludes lawful permanent residents, many Indians face lengthy waiting periods for green cards. The existing immigration framework caps green cards awarded to any single country, resulting in significant delays, particularly for Indian nationals. Coupled with current estimates that place the number of undocumented Indian immigrants in the US at approximately 725,000, the current climate exacerbates concerns regarding citizenship and immigration stability.

As various families grapple with these developments, expectant parents like Priyanshi and Piyush express a desperate need for clarity. “Do we need to contact the Indian consulate for a passport? Which visa applies? There’s no information online,” lamented Priyanshi, underscoring the confusion.

With the Supreme Court’s decisions on the matter still pending, many await definitive resolutions regarding their children’s citizenship and the implications it might have on their lives in the US. For families who have built their lives in America, the prospect of navigating a new maze of legal uncertainties while welcoming a newborn is indeed daunting. As Akshay poignantly concluded, “As legal, tax-paying immigrants, our baby deserves US citizenship – it’s been the law, right?”