Pregnant illegal immigrants and visa workers in the US are desperately seeking caesarean procedures in order to beat the deadline for President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship.
According to a doctor who runs a maternity clinic in the US, there has been a significant increase in pre-term delivery requests after Trump’s executive order on Monday.
“A seven months pregnant woman came with her husband to sign up for a preterm delivery,” the doctor said.
“She isn’t due until sometime in March.”
Another doctor who spoke to Times of India said he had spoken to between 15 and 20 couples about pre-term caesareans over the last two days, and warned of the significant health risks posed by the procedure.
“I am trying to tell couples that even if it is possible, a preterm birth poses significant risk to mother and child,” he said.
“Complications include underdeveloped lungs, feeding problems, low birth weight, neurological complications and more.”
An Indian couple expecting a baby in March said they have been in the United States on H-1B visas for eight years, and were hoping for their child to be born in the country.
“We were counting on our child being born here. We’ve been waiting for our green cards for six years. This was the only way to ensure stability for our family. We are terrified of the uncertainty.”
Another expectant parent, who is preparing to have his first child with his wife, told Times of India, “We sacrificed so much to come here. Now, it feels like the door is closing on us.”
On Tuesday, in direct response to the executive order, a number of Democrat state attorneys filed a lawsuit to halt the executive order. Then on Thursday, a Seattle judge put a temporary block on the order.
US District Judge John Coughenour, a Reagan appointee, said he couldn’t “remember another case where the question presented is as clear as it is here. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order.”
“Obviously we will appeal it,” President Trump said, from the White House.
“There’s no surprises with that judge,” he added.