USA: Birthright Citizenship

Donald Trump, on his first day as the 47th President of the United States, signed an executive order that significantly alters existing immigration laws, targeting the concept of birthright citizenship.

Changes to Birthright Citizenship

• Trump's order stipulates that a child born in the US will only be granted citizenship if at least one parent is a US citizen, green card holder, or a US military member.
• This order contradicts the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution which grants automatic citizenship to all individuals born in the US, regardless of their parents' citizenship status.

Impact on Indian-Americans

• Over 5 million Indian-Americans reside in the US, making up 1.47% of the total population.
• 34% of Indian-Americans are US born, while the majority are immigrants, primarily on H1-B visas.
• The executive order will prevent automatic citizenship for children of Indian nationals, potentially complicating their path to permanent residency.

End of Birth Tourism

• Birth tourism involves traveling to the US to give birth, ensuring automatic citizenship for the child, which can subsequently expedite parents’ green card or citizenship processes.