If you’re a mom, expecting a child, or planning a family — especially in an immigrant household — there’s one question that may have never crossed your mind until now: Will my baby be considered an American?
That’s the real-life fear sparked by a controversial executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day back in office. The order attempts to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents or people on temporary visas — including women on work or student visas. On May 15, the Supreme Court heard arguments about whether lower courts had the power to block the order nationwide.
And while no final ruling has been made, the implications are already causing anxiety among women across Texas and beyond.
“The idea that citizenship can be taken away from a whole class of people based on the whims of a single person—President Trump—actually weakens the power of citizenship for everyone,” said Martin Kim, Director of Immigration Advocacy at Asian Americans Advancing Justice, at an American Community Media briefing on May 16.
What Does This Mean for Families?
Let’s be clear: birthright citizenship has been protected by the 14th Amendment since 1868. It says that anyone born on U.S. soil — regardless of who their parents are — is a citizen. That’s how it’s worked for generations.
But this new order would change that for future children born to undocumented immigrants and even visa-holding parents — like tech workers, international students, or those here on temporary protected status.
And there’s no clear plan for how hospitals or states like Texas would even implement this change. “There isn’t clear guidance as to what might happen,” Kim said. “It would create a lot of confusion and a lot of headache for not just families, but hospitals and state agencies.”
For women in Houston’s immigrant neighborhoods — from Gulfton to Alief — that confusion could mean chaos in maternity wards, at the passport office, or even enrolling a child in school.
The Hidden Cost: Millions of Children at Risk
According to the Migration Policy Institute, an estimated 255,000 babies born in the U.S. each year would no longer be granted citizenship if the order goes into effect.
That number includes:
- Children born to undocumented mothers
- Babies born to parents on temporary visas
- Even future grandchildren of today’s visa holders
“Without birthright citizenship, millions of U.S.-born children would grow up… without access to public benefits, financial aid for college, or the ability to work legally,” said Julia Gelatt of the Migration Policy Institute.
By 2045, MPI estimates 2.7 million children could be stateless or unauthorized. That means no access to health care, jobs, voting rights, or the ability to live without fear of deportation — even though they were born here.
“Repealing birthright citizenship… would actually grow the unauthorized immigrant population. It would not shrink it,” Gelatt emphasized.
For Texas, a state with one of the largest immigrant populations in the country, the fallout could be immense.
Who Is Being Targeted?
Cesar Ruiz, Associate Counsel at LatinoJustice, believes the order is part of a wider pattern targeting Latino and immigrant women. “We represent two pregnant women in our lawsuit,” he said. “Their children would be directly affected and rendered stateless.”
He added, “Birthright citizenship is a human right. It should not turn on where your parents were born or any other arbitrary factor.”
Ruiz says the issue isn’t just legal — it’s personal and political. “This would strip many groups across the ethnic and racial spectrum from that critical right to vote,” he said, pointing out how the policy could later be used to suppress votes in communities of color.
A Dangerous History Repeating Itself?
Professor Robert S. Chang of the Korematsu Center for Law and Equality reminded attendees at the briefing that the U.S. has a long history of denying citizenship to people of color.
“We have an unbroken chain of 127 years of the recognition of birthright citizenship,” Chang said. “This executive order seeks to break that chain.”
He warned that, if upheld, the order could be used to deny basic rights — like getting a passport or registering to vote — even to adults who were already born in the U.S.
“If a state wants to act on the executive order,” Chang said, “they could say, ‘If you want to vote, you have to prove your parents don’t fall into these two categories.’”
“Once this is restricted, it opens the door to other limitations in terms of who can become naturalized.”
And for mothers, that could mean one more layer of fear: raising children in a country that doesn’t consider them full citizens.
Bottom Line: Why Women Should Care
Whether you’re a first-generation immigrant, a visa holder, or a citizen concerned about civil rights — this fight touches home. It’s about our children, our rights, and our future.
“This fight is far from over,” said Ruiz. “We need everyone in our community — especially women — to understand what’s at stake and speak out.”
SIDEBAR: What Is the Supreme Court Actually Deciding Right Now?
Despite the big headlines, the Court isn’t ruling yet on whether to eliminate birthright citizenship.
What’s happening now:
The Court is deciding whether federal judges can issue nationwide injunctions to block the policy while legal challenges play out. That’s a procedural issue — not the final word on the 14th Amendment.
In plain terms: This is about how the courts can fight the order, not whether it’s legal.
What’s next:
The constitutional question — whether the president can change who gets to be a citizen — will come later, likely after the November election. But the groundwork is being laid now.
