Preterm delivery requests are on the rise in the United States due to citizenship concerns. Dr. S.D. Rama, a maternity specialist in New Jersey, reports a sharp rise in Indian women, many in their eighth or ninth month of pregnancy, seeking C-sections before February 20. This rush follows newly elected President Donald Trump’s January 20 announcement to end birthright citizenship for babies born to non-permanent residents after that date.
“Some women aren’t even full-term. One woman, seven months pregnant, came in with her husband to request preterm delivery,” said Dr. Rama. The urgency is widespread, with women desperate to ensure their children are born as US citizens before the policy change takes effect.
Doctors are urging caution
“Preterm births poses significant risks to mother and child. Complications include underdeveloped lungs, feeding problems, low birth weight, neurological complications and more,” said Dr. S.G. Mukkala, an obstetrician in Texas, who recently counselled over 15 to 20 couples on this issue.
For many Indians working in the US on H-1B visas, birthright citizenship offers a safety net amid the long wait for green cards, which can span decades. “We’ve been waiting for our green cards for six years, and this was our only hope for stability,” said Varun, whose wife is due in March. Another H-1B holder, still months away from parenthood, said the policy change has upended their plans. “We sacrificed so much to come here. Now it feels like the door is closing.”
The implications of the policy change are considerably more severe for illegal immigrants. A California resident Vijay (name changed), who entered the US illegally eight years ago, said the announcement has left his family devastated. “Our lawyer suggested birthright citizenship through our child as a solution. Now we don’t know what to do,” said Vijay, whose wife is seven months pregnant.
The policy change has sparked widespread anxiety, forcing families to weigh the risks of preterm births against the uncertainty of their future in the US.
