Indian parents in the US are grappling with uncertainty regarding birthright citizenship. Neha Satpute and Akshay Pise, an Indian couple on H1B visas, were excited to welcome their baby in San Jose, California, anticipating that their child would automatically become a US citizen.
However, the proposed rule by Donald Trump to deny automatic citizenship to children of temporary foreign workers has cast a shadow over their plans.
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Although two federal judges have temporarily blocked the order, legal challenges are ongoing. The rule does not affect green card holders, but Indians often face the longest wait times for permanent residency, with some waiting decades. Without birthright citizenship, children of visa holders could find themselves in a state of worry, leading to a legal gray area with no straightforward solution.
Worries about the rule have spread throughout Indian communities in the US. South Asian expectant parents are turning to online forums for guidance on their newborns’ legal status. Some have even scheduled early C-sections, although Dr. Sathaeesh Kathula of AAPI cautions against unnecessary medical procedures.
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Trump’s policy would also have repercussions for undocumented immigrants, denying their children automatic citizenship and removing a pathway for family-based sponsorship. With over 5 million Indians on non-immigrant visas as many as 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants, the ruling would really impact the community.
For Indian professionals in the US, this isn’t just about citizenship—its about security. Families who’ve spend years building a life now fear for their children will face the same visa struggles. With green card backlogs already decades long, losing birthright citizenship could mean a lifetime of legal uncertainty for their kids.
