Indian couples in US rush for C-sections to beat Trump's citizenship deadline

There is a rush to give birth in the US to beat the birthright ban deadline. Indian couples are dialling up doctors and are lining up at maternity clinics for C-sections before February 20. One Indian-origin gynaecologist said she fielded calls from around 20 such couples.

Why February 20? This is the deadline for termination of birthright citizenship under US President Donald Trump's executive order.

One of the executive orders signed by Trump immediately after he took over as the President was to end birthright citizenship in the US. So, children born in the US till February 19 will be born American citizens.

After February 19, children born to non-citizen couples won't be natural American citizens.

There are tens of thousands of Indians working on temporary H-1B and L1 visas in the US. They are also in queue for Green Cards, that give permanent residency in the US. Children born to parents, where none of them are American citizen or a Green Card holder, won't be a US citizen by birth.

This is why the rush to be delivered of babies by C-section before February 20.

The maternity clinic of Dr S D Rama from New Jersey, is receiving an unusual number of asks for C-sections now by women in their eight and ninth months of pregnancy, according to The Times of India. A few are even some months away from full term.

“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 told The Times of India.

What adds to the rush is that Indians also bet their citizenship on their children born in the US. After turning 21, these American-Indians can be a ticket to US residency for their parents.

Dr S G Mukkala, an obstetrician and gynecologist from Texas expressed their concern about the risks of preterm births.

He told The Times of India that he had spoken to around 20 couples in the last two days.

“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 said.

While risks remain, many on Reddit also understood why the parents rush for a C-section before the deadline.

"Obviously the doctors will say if it's safe or not, and so on. That's not terrible parenting," wrote a person on Reddit.

Another person shared how the American dream might be shattered.

"American dream is a scam. Right now they are processing 2012 eb2/3 for India. Which means typically for people who entered the US in 2007. ie if a 22 year old fresh out of college entered the US in 2007, they will be getting green card around this time. Another 5 years for citizenship. 45 years old to become a citizen. Know what you are signing up for," wrote the person.

The backlog for green cards is a century long now and birthright citizenship in the US was a respite for many.

"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," Priya, who is expected to give birth in March, told TOI.

A father, 28, a finance professional also shared his fears about the deadline on his family.

We sacrificed so much to come here. Now, it feels like the door is closing on us,” he told TOI as he and his wife prepare for their first child.

For illegal immigrants, the policy change comes with even stronger consequences.

A California-based man, who has lived in the US for eight years since he entered the country illegally and he and his wife who is on the seventh month of her pregnancy were heartbroken when they heard about Trump administration's deadline.

“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.

Some others on social media platforms like Reddit asked Indians in the US to come back.

"Come back to India or relocate to another country," wrote a person on Reddit.

Indians in the US might be heading for preterm births and will be trying to do all they can to get a citizenship for their children.

The American Dream, which is facing a new test with Trump's ban on birthright citizenship, is pushing many couples to go for C-sections. All with February 20 on their minds.