Indian couples in US rush to hospitals for early C-section deliveries as birthright citizenship deadline nears

Order, signed by Trump on Inauguration Day, slated to take effect on February 19. May impact hundreds of thousands of people born in the country

Hyderabad: As the birthright citizenship deadline nears, there’s a sudden surge in demand for C-Section procedures across the US with Indian couples opting for pre-term deliveries to ensure that their children are born American citizens.

The order, signed by Trump on Inauguration Day, is slated to take effect on February 19. It could impact hundreds of thousands of people born in the country, according to one of the lawsuits.

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Couples have been crowding hospitals and clinics, asking doctors to deliver their babies via cesarean section.

According to reports, most women in their eighth or ninth month, but several weeks away from their due date, are trying to give birth before February 20. However, gynaecologists have warned of the risks of preterm delivery, both for the mother and infant.

Social media is abuzz with posts and discussions about the panic at healthcare facilities caused by Trump’s executive order.

“Indian couples in the US rushing for early C-sections just to beat Trump’s citizenship deadline—putting unborn children at risk for a passport! This is nothing but selfish opportunism, exploiting loopholes while endangering lives. Citizenship isn’t a shortcut — it’s a responsibility! Stop chasing greed at any cost. Such actions bring disgrace to our values,” posted Nut Boult, a verified user, on X.

Some have even condemned the rush, calling it foolish. “7-8 months pregnant Indian women in the USA urging doctors to do a C- section to ensure they can be declared citizens before the 20th Feb deadline. How foolish! Is this the level of silliness one can demonstrate? Really?” posted another user Mehul Darooka.

Trump’s order to redefine birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment asserts that a child born in the US is not a citizen if the mother does not have legal immigration status or is in the country legally but only temporarily, and the father is not a US citizen or lawful permanent resident.

The order forbids US agencies from issuing any document recognising such a child as a citizen or accepting any state document recognising citizenship.

The order is being challenged in federal court. A federal judge in Seattle is set to hear the first arguments on Thursday in a multi-State lawsuit seeking to block the executive order.