President Donald Trump's new executive order, scheduled to be active from February 20, has caused unease among expecting parents—particularly in the Indian-American population in New Jersey. This order ends birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-permanent residents, leaving many families scrambling to adjust their plans.

What does the policy change mean?

Under the new rule, babies born to parents who are neither U.S. citizens nor lawful permanent residents will no longer automatically receive American citizenship. This includes families legally residing in the country on temporary visas, such as H-1B holders, tourists, and students. The announcement has caused widespread concern, especially among those who were relying on birthright citizenship as a means of securing a stable future for their children.

The rush for early deliveries

The data suggest an atypical rise in early C-section demand among Indian women in New Jersey following this policy change. Many of these women, who are in their eighth or ninth month of pregnancy, want to have their babies before February 20. 

A maternity specialist in New Jersey, Dr. S.D. Rama observed the steep increase in preterm delivery requests following Trump’s announcement on January 20. “We’ve even seen cases where women in their seventh month of pregnancy are considering early delivery,” Dr. Rama shared, referring to a recent case involving a mother whose due date was originally in March.

Are there risks to preterm births?

Delivering babies before their full term has been seriously criticized for its health effects by medical professionals. Based in Texas, Dr. S. G. Mukkala, an obstetrician, has advised families against choosing preterm labor unless medically necessary.

Dr. said, "I am trying to tell couples that even if it is possible, a preterm birth poses significant risk to mother and child." Mukkala mentioned. Possible problems for preterm infants include underweight and immature lungs, both of which could have long-term health consequences.

How are families on H-1B visas reacting?

The policy shift has raised stress among families getting green cards. Many worry the new regulations would change their strategy for protecting their children's future. Indian couple living in America, Varun and Priya (names disguised). on H-1B visas over eight years, expressed their concerns.

“We were counting on our child being born here. This was the only way to ensure stability for our family,” Priya told TOI. Now they face the added uncertainty of how the order might affect their long-term plans.

Legal challenges to the executive order

The policy has sparked legal battles across the country. A coalition of 22 states, led by Democratic attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the executive order violates the 14th Amendment. The citizenship clause of the amendment has historically been interpreted to grant citizenship to nearly everyone born on U.S. soil.

Although the legal challenges are uncertain, for the time being, families feel compelled to act fast. U.S. residents number over one million Indians. might be directly affected by this policy change, thereby underlining its great scope of impact.