Donald Trump’s birthright citizenship order likely to affect millions of Indians on US green card wait list

Newly appointed US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday to end birthright citizenship. The order—slated to come into effect from February 20—will ensure that the children of foreign passport holders will no longer be considered American citizens. This includes people who are legally in the country, such as tourists, students, and those on work visas. The law is also expected to affect more than a million Indians who are currently in line for green cards.

“We’re the only country in the world that does this with birth right, as you know, and it’s just absolutely ridiculous. We think we have very good grounds for the change,” Trump said in the Oval Office.

According to 2024 reports citing the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, more than a million Indians are currently waiting for green cards. The executive order signed on Monday declares that babies born in the US after the deadline won't be recognised as citizens if the father isn’t a US citizen or lawful permanent resident and the mother is in the country illegally or is lawfully present on a temporary student, work or tourist visa.

The order has sparked outrage from several quarters, 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.

“This will undoubtedly accelerate the exodus of highly skilled immigrant talent stuck in century-long backlog and immigration limbo. Excluding children of birth tourists and illegal immigrants is one thing, but sidelining those legally building a life in America—and driving its competitiveness—is another,” wrote US-based author Vivek Wadhwa.

The 14th Amendment to the US Constitution — adopted in 1868 after the Civil War to clarify the status of formerly enslaved people — has long been read as giving citizenship to nearly all babies born on US soil. The controversial immigration action is likely to face legal hurdles — but White House officials insisted on Tuesday that they had “very good grounds”.

(With inputs from agencies)