In his bid to return to the White House, Donald Trump has proposed ending automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who aren’t American citizens or green card holders. For Indian families, this announcement is particularly significant, as many professionals residing in the U.S. on temporary visas, like the H1B, often have children during their stay.
This proposed change would modify the long-standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment, 150 years ago that was originally meant to provide citizenship to children of enslaved individuals, ensuring their rights in a newly post-slavery America.
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However, Trump argues that it’s now being “misinterpreted” to benefit children undocumented immigrants, which he claims has led to an increase in “birth tourism”- a practice where foreign nationals give birth in the U.S. to secure citizenship for their children. Supporters of Trump’s proposal believe this will help curb unauthorized immigration and prevent misuse of the system.
While Trump’s proposal has raised many questions, it’s essential to clarify that his focus is on children of undocumented or illegal immigrants. For families on temporary work visas or other legal permits, this proposal wouldn’t directly affect them – Trump’s plan specifically targets those living in the U.S. without legal status. Nonetheless, this announcement has certainly sparked curiosity and concern about U.S. immigration policies.
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