Washington, Jan 21, . US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order to abolish birthright citizenship in the US. The order will ensure that children of foreign passport holders will no longer be considered US citizens. This also includes those who are legally living in the country, such as those living on tourist, student and work visas.
This order of Trump can have a profound impact on Indians, know how –
What is birthright citizenship?
Birthright citizenship is the legal principle according to which children acquire citizenship of the country in which they are born, regardless of the nationality or immigration status of their parents.
The 14th Amendment to the US Constitution has long been read as granting citizenship to almost all children born on American soil. It was adopted in 1868 after the Civil War to clarify the status of formerly enslaved people.
It states that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States.”
What did Trump say?
On Monday, the president signed an executive order against birthright citizenship, calling it an ‘absolutely ridiculous’ concept. He also claimed that the US is the ‘only country in the world’ that has such a rule. The controversial order may face legal hurdles – but the White House believes there are ‘very good grounds’ for it to change.
What will the executive order do?
The order signed by Donald Trump on Monday will ensure that children born in the US – [whose at least one parent is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident] – will no longer automatically receive US citizenship. It also prohibits federal agencies from issuing or recognizing relevant documents proving US citizenship for such children. The order targets children of both unauthorized immigrants and those legally living in the US on temporary visas.
Will it come into effect immediately?
There was no immediate change in the process within hours of Trump signing the order. The executive order is scheduled to take effect by February 20, but it will face several legal hurdles. The citizenship clause is part of the US Constitution, and birthright citizenship is also backed by law. Several reports also quote experts claiming that a complete change in the laws related to birthright citizenship is impossible.
The order has sparked outrage in many parts of society, with many influential voices speaking out against the decision. Immigrant and civil rights advocates – including the American Civil Liberties Union – also filed a lawsuit against the order on Monday.
How will this decision affect Indians
According to media reports, according to the latest census, there are more than 5.4 million Indians in the United States, which is about 1.47 percent of the US population. Of these, two-thirds are immigrants, while 34% are US-born.
If Trump’s move is implemented, children of Indian citizens living in the US on temporary work visas or tourist visas will no longer automatically get citizenship.
The executive order also aims to end the trend of birth tourism in the country. Birth tourism is a trend in which a woman travels to the United States to give birth to a child in the country, so that she automatically gets US citizenship.
