International Desk
24 January
Ludhiana
Journalist Sandeep Dhand
A federal judge in Seattle has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s order that aimed to limit birthright citizenship in the United States. The decision brings relief to many Indian residents in the U.S. on temporary H1B or L1 visas.
Court Issues Temporary Restraining Order
US District Judge John Coffenoyer issued a temporary restraining order, halting the implementation of Trump’s policy for 14 days. The policy, which was scheduled to take effect on February 19, would have prevented children born in the U.S. from acquiring citizenship if their parents were not U.S. citizens or legal residents.
Trump’s Order Faces Legal Defeat
This ruling marks a significant legal setback for Trump’s efforts to change U.S. citizenship laws. The policy was expected to impact hundreds of thousands of children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents, particularly in communities with temporary visa holders.
Increased Requests for C-Sections
The impending policy change led to a surge in requests from Indian women on temporary visas for C-sections, allowing them to give birth before the new rules took effect. Doctors in the U.S. reported an increase in such cases, as families rushed to ensure their children would be born before the February 20 deadline to secure U.S. citizenship.
Arguments Behind Trump’s Order
Trump’s policy argued that children born to non-citizen parents should not be granted citizenship, as they were not within the country’s life limit for citizenship. The court’s decision has put the new policy on hold pending further review.