US court’s blocking gives breather to NRIs

Hyderabad: A US federal judge temporarily blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship has brought relief to several NRIs and members of the Indian community living in the United States.
Although Trump said on Thursday that his administration would appeal the ruling given by the federal court, more lawsuits and cases are being filed all across the country. Six lawsuits have been filed challenging Trump's order, most of them by Democratic attorneys generals from 22 states, with experts speculating the order would be blocked and ended permanently soon.
However, news that the Trump administration is examining temporary legal arrivals under the Biden presidency has come as a fresh cause for worry.
The controversial order by President Trump had sought to end the automatic granting of citizenship to children born on US soil, regardless of their parents' immigration status. The temporary block, until February 20, ensures that the law remains unchanged for now, providing reassurance to many immigrant families.
Akanksha Gupta, a recently married IT professional living in California, said, “It's a sense of relief that the order was blocked. The judge’s decision showed that the legal system in the US still works to protect the fundamental rights of citizens who come here for a livelihood.” The decision comes as many immigrant communities closely monitor the legal battles over Trump policies. NRIs are hopeful that the courts will permanently strike it down.
“The order getting quashed was inevitable,” said Bhanu Kumar, a student in New Jersey. “It is completely against the 14th Amendment and several cases have already been fought on this matter. Those cases will now be used to completely thrash the executive order,” he explained. Dinesh K., a graduate of Chicago, said, “I moved to the US for opportunities, and I believe the country stands for equality. I am confident the courts will uphold that principle.”
Many believe this is not the last legal challenge Trump's policies will face. Immigrant rights organisations and Democratic leaders are expected to fight hard against other controversial decisions made by his administration. The legal battle over birthright citizenship is far from over, but for now, immigrant families can breathe a little easier.