Donald Trump suggests that children of foreign nationals born in the United States only become citizens if at least one parent is a naturalized citizen or permanent resident.
The triumph of Donald Trump in the 2024 US elections has sparked worry among the migrant community, particularly among unauthorized individuals. This issue is heightened by the possibility of eliminating automatic citizenship for children born to foreign parents.
Challenges in Obtaining Citizenship
As part of his campaign approach, Trump proposed sweeping changes to the current citizenship policy. He intends to urge federal agencies to implement a new rule: for a kid to be automatically granted US citizenship, at least one parent must be a US citizen or a legal permanent resident. This proposed move represents a significant departure from the current policy, which offers automatic citizenship to nearly all children born on American soil, regardless of their parent’s immigration status.
According to The Economic Times, birthright citizenship has historically provided a glimpse of hope for migrants’ children who are patiently waiting for a Green Card. While it may not have directly benefited the parents, it did ensure that their children’s immigration status remained stable.
Donald Trump’s Position on the Green Card Policy
This is especially important for nationalities subject to annual quotas for Green Cards. Many foreign citizens working in the United States on H-1B visas face a decades-long backlog.
Furthermore, no single country may obtain more than 7% of the total Green Cards available in the job or family categories. This restriction has a disproportionate impact on candidates seeking employment.
Donald Trump recently expressed conflicting views on Green Card policies, hinting at prospective changes. On the one hand, he has proposed making immigration simpler for qualified workers by instituting automatic Green Cards for international students who graduate from US colleges, even those who complete two-year programs.
