New Delhi, November 7: The potential reversal of automatic citizenship for children born in the US to non-US parents, including Indian nationals, has sparked concerns among immigrant communities. If Donald Trump, the incoming President, signs an executive order as suggested in his campaign proposal, children born in the US would only be granted automatic citizenship if at least one parent is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident. This would apply even to children born to legal immigrants or those with a work visa, such as the millions of Indian nationals living in the country.

The draft of the proposed executive order suggests a reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, which currently grants automatic citizenship to all children born in the US, regardless of their parents’ immigration status, reported TOI. Trump’s proposal, which he plans to implement on Day 1 of his presidency, has already been met with resistance from immigration advocates. They argue that such an order would be a violation of constitutional rights and could be challenged in the courts. ‘We Made History, This Will Be Golden Age for America’: Donald Trump After Declaring Victory in US Presidential Election 2024 (Watch Video).

Trump’s Plan May End Automatic US Citizenship for Children of Indian Parents

A significant issue arises for Indian nationals caught in the green card backlog. According to a study by the Cato Institute, the backlog in the employment-based green card category (EB-2 and EB-3) for skilled workers from India surpassed one million in 2023. PM Narendra Modi Dials ‘Friend’ Donald Trump, Says ‘Looking Forward To Working Closely To Strengthen India-US Relations’.

The wait time for green cards in this category could stretch up to 134 years, affecting over four lakh Indians. As a result, many children born to Indian families could face issues when they “age out” of the green card process at 21 years, forcing them to either self-deport or seek alternative visas. This proposed executive order, if enacted, would further complicate their path to US citizenship.

With over 4.8 million Indian-Americans living in the US, including 1.6 million born in the country, this issue has widespread implications for families across the nation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 07, 2024 11:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).