00:00The future children of illegal aliens will not receive automatic U.S. citizenship.
00:09Would want taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries for illegal aliens.
00:19In a move that has raised significant concern among immigrant communities in the United States,
00:26particularly Indian Americans, former President Donald Trump and his political ally J.D. Vance
00:33have promised a dramatic shift in the nation's immigration policy, one that could have
00:40serious consequences for children of immigrants seeking to become naturalized U.S. citizens.
00:47Throughout his 2024 campaign, Trump has made no secret of his intentions to
00:58overhaul the U.S. immigration system. One of his most controversial promises,
01:05to curb the naturalization of children born in the United States,
01:10a provision that has long been enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
01:17Trump has repeatedly stated that on day one of his presidency, he will launch the largest
01:43deportation program in U.S. history. But this isn't just about illegal immigration.
01:51Trump's plan can also target the legal process, particularly the automatic citizenship granted
01:59to children born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents' immigration status.
02:06According to campaign documents, Trump intends to sign an executive order on his first day in
02:12office that would change how children born in the United States are granted citizenship. The
02:20proposal would require that at least one parent be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
02:29for their child to gain automatic citizenship.
02:39This change would mean that children born in the U.S. to parents who are not citizens or
02:46permanent residents currently eligible for automatic citizenship would no longer be
02:53granted their status. This has sparked alarm, especially within immigrant communities that
03:00have long relied on the ability to have their children become naturalized citizens after birth.
03:23For many families, the implications are profound. In 2023, it was reported that the backlog for
03:36employment-based green cards from India alone had crossed the 1 million mark,
03:42with some immigrants facing wait times of over 50 years. This means that hundreds of thousands
03:50of young immigrants, those who came to the U.S. for study or work, could face uncertain futures.
04:01Children of these immigrants, some who were born in the U.S. and are waiting for their green cards,
04:08may age out of the system before they ever get a chance to become citizens.
04:14And if they remain in the U.S. beyond the age of 21,
04:18without alternative visas, they could be considered illegal immigrants.
04:29The changes proposed by Trump, if enacted, would likely face a major legal challenge.
04:37Legal experts argue that such an executive order could be unconstitutional,
04:43as it would contradict the 14th Amendment,
04:46which grants automatic citizenship to anyone born in the U.S.
04:51However, Trump's campaign insists that their interpretation of the 14th Amendment is correct and if the executive order is signed, the matter will likely end up in the courts.
05:16It will be up to the judicial system to determine whether such a policy shift is legally sound.
05:25This proposal is particularly concerning for Indian-American families. According to Pew
05:31Research, an estimated 4.8 million Indian-Americans are living in the U.S., with 1.6 million of them
05:41being born in the country and naturalized. For many, the promise of citizenship for their
05:47children was a guarantee, one that could soon be at risk.
05:57As Trump and Vance continue to campaign on this controversial issue,
06:01the question remains, will this new approach to immigration pass legal scrutiny? Or will it spark
06:10a new wave of challenges to America's legal framework on citizenship?
06:21One thing is certain, immigrants and their children, particularly those of Indian descent,
06:27are watching closely. The outcome of this battle over citizenship could reshape
06:33the future for millions of families across the country.
06:40Don't miss out. Log on to OneIndia.com for more updates.
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