SC refugee families fear for their children's citizenship status. Here's what to know

A pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling on birthright citizenship could upend life for South Carolina refugee families, including an Afghan family in Columbia whose youngest daughter was born on American soil. Families say the uncertainty adds financial strain and fear to an already overwhelming immigration process.

FULL STORY: SC refugee families caught in crossfire of birthright citizenship decision

Here are key takeaways:

• Mohammad “Rahim” Sultani fled Afghanistan with his family in 2023 and now worries about the citizenship status of his youngest daughter, born in May 2025 — four months after President Donald Trump’s executive order to redefine birthright citizenship. “We are kind of worried and stressed because her status, even if it is cancelled, we don’t know what would be her case,” Sultani said.
• Trump’s January 2025 executive order redefines birthright citizenship to exclude children born to parents who are not U.S. citizens or “lawful permanent residents.” Refugees like Sultani, awaiting green cards for more than 18 months, fall into a gray area not specifically addressed.
• More than 20,000 children in South Carolina are U.S. citizens born to undocumented immigrant parents, according to the National Center for Children in Poverty. Under the executive order, those children could become stateless and ineligible for services like Medicaid.
• The New Americans program at Lutheran Services Carolinas, where Sultani works as a case manager, has cut its South Carolina staff from nearly 80 to under 50 employees due to federal funding cuts, state program director Seth Hershberger said.
• A Winthrop University poll released May 28 found 84% of South Carolina residents support citizenship for children of legal immigrants, but only 45% support it for children of “illegal parents.” Children born to immigrants with pending status changes were not asked about. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson joined 20 other state AGs in defending Trump’s order.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.