Albany [New York], January 28: The U.S. federal government's executive order to end birthright citizenship has sparked fear and uncertainly for tens of thousands of immigrant families and foreign workers, students and tourists, and left hospitals, state and local governments, and even some in Donald Trump's administration, searching for answers over how it would be implemented, said The Washington Post on Monday.
"Though it is likely to face a lengthy battle in court, legal experts said that if it were to go forward, the policy would have vast and sweeping implications -- and not just for the undocumented population," noted the report.
Lawyers say the logistical hurdles of instituting a system that would determine which babies born in the United States do and don't qualify for citizenship would add to government bloat. It could also result in delays and errors in obtaining proof of citizenship, even for the millions who do qualify.
"This could impact all U.S. citizens," Jacob Hamburger, a visiting professor at Cornell University who focuses on how immigration impacts state and local jurisdictions, was quoted as saying.
Twenty-two states and four civil rights organizations have filed lawsuits claiming the order is unconstitutional, and a federal judge has temporarily blocked it from going into effect. Those cases could take years to resolve, said the report.
Source: Xinhua News Agency