Ajay, an immigrant from India, has always felt at home in the United States. He arrived in 2021 with his wife and infant son to pursue graduate studies. After securing a job at a major Fortune 500 company, he stayed in the country with an H-1B visa. Over the years, he and his family embraced American traditions, taking road trips across 28 states. His son, now 4, enjoys American food like cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets, and even sings the iconic Woody Guthrie song This Land Is Your Land that he learned in preschool.
However, Ajay’s sense of security was shaken last month. His wife recently found out she is pregnant, a joyous occasion for the family. But just weeks later, their excitement turned to worry when former President Donald Trump announced a new policy affecting birthright citizenship. The new rule proposes that children born in the U.S. to parents who are not permanent residents would not automatically receive American citizenship.
Although the policy is currently on hold due to a legal challenge, it has caused deep concern among H-1B visa holders like Ajay. He had always believed that one of the benefits of working in the U.S. with an H-1B visa was that any children born in the country would be granted U.S. citizenship.
A Changing Vision of the American Dream
Ajay, who wished to remain anonymous due to concerns of backlash, shared that the new rule feels “cruel and vindictive.” He believes the policy undermines the American dream, especially for skilled workers like him who move to the U.S. to fill jobs that American companies cannot fill.
The policy highlights a broader trend in the early days of Trump’s immigration reform, which began with a focus on border security and deportations. However, some of his initial executive orders, including this one, have specifically targeted legal immigrants, leaving many feeling uncertain about their future in the country.
For workers like Ajay, the rule represents more than just a policy change; it shakes the very foundation of their faith in the promises made to immigrants coming to the U.S. to contribute to its economy and culture.
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