A recent Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters support limiting automatic birthright citizenship to births where at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, including 39% who Strongly Support such limits. Thirty-four percent (34%) are opposed, including 23% who Strongly Oppose limiting birthright citizenship.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week about President Donald Trump’s executive order that denied birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants and temporary visitors to the U.S. Limiting birthright citizenship is at least somewhat supported by 61% of Republicans, 62% of Democrats and 54% of voters not affiliated with either major party.
After the Supreme Court heard arguments on birthright citizenship, a majority of voters now favor limits on the longstanding, but constitutionally dubious, practice.
Under the current interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment, any child born in the United States is automatically a U.S. citizen, regardless of whether their parents are legal residents. Eighty-eight percent (88%) of voters are familiar with the legal concept of birthright citizenship, including 55% who say they’re Very Familiar with the concept.
The survey asked voters about two related issues, including whether illegal immigrants who have American-born children be exempt from deportation – a divided result, with 38% in favor and 42% against, with 19% undecided. However, when asked if illegal immigrants who were brought here as children should be exempt from deportation if they have served honorably in the United States armed services, a solid 69% majority say yes, with just 19% opposed to such an exemption and 12% not sure.
Majorities of every political category – 78% of Democrats, 58% of Republicans and 69% of unaffiliated voters – favor exempting the children of illegal aliens from deportation if they served honorably in the U.S. armed forces.
While 58% of Democrats think illegal immigrants who have American-born children should be exempt from deportation, just 22% of Republicans and 33% of unaffiliated voters agree with such an exemption.
There is almost no “gender gap” on the question of limiting automatic birthright citizenship to births where at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, with 60% of men and 58% of women voters favoring such a limitation.
Majorities of every racial category – 55% of whites, 71% of black voters, 63% of Hispanics and 61% of other minorities at least somewhat support limiting automatic birthright citizenship to births where at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.
Voters under 30 are most likely to favor exempting illegal immigrants from deportation if they have U.S.-born children.
Among those who voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, 62% say illegal immigrants who have American-born children should be exempt from deportation, but just 19% of those who voted for Trump agree.
The survey of 1,054 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on April 1-2 and 5, 2026 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. To see survey question wording, click here.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week about President Donald Trump’s executive order that denied birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants and temporary visitors to the U.S. Limiting birthright citizenship is at least somewhat supported by 61% of Republicans, 62% of Democrats and 54% of voters not affiliated with either major party.
After the Supreme Court heard arguments on birthright citizenship, a majority of voters now favor limits on the longstanding, but constitutionally dubious, practice.
Under the current interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment, any child born in the United States is automatically a U.S. citizen, regardless of whether their parents are legal residents. Eighty-eight percent (88%) of voters are familiar with the legal concept of birthright citizenship, including 55% who say they’re Very Familiar with the concept.
The survey asked voters about two related issues, including whether illegal immigrants who have American-born children be exempt from deportation – a divided result, with 38% in favor and 42% against, with 19% undecided. However, when asked if illegal immigrants who were brought here as children should be exempt from deportation if they have served honorably in the United States armed services, a solid 69% majority say yes, with just 19% opposed to such an exemption and 12% not sure.
Majorities of every political category – 78% of Democrats, 58% of Republicans and 69% of unaffiliated voters – favor exempting the children of illegal aliens from deportation if they served honorably in the U.S. armed forces.
While 58% of Democrats think illegal immigrants who have American-born children should be exempt from deportation, just 22% of Republicans and 33% of unaffiliated voters agree with such an exemption.
There is almost no “gender gap” on the question of limiting automatic birthright citizenship to births where at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, with 60% of men and 58% of women voters favoring such a limitation.
Majorities of every racial category – 55% of whites, 71% of black voters, 63% of Hispanics and 61% of other minorities at least somewhat support limiting automatic birthright citizenship to births where at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.
Voters under 30 are most likely to favor exempting illegal immigrants from deportation if they have U.S.-born children.
Among those who voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, 62% say illegal immigrants who have American-born children should be exempt from deportation, but just 19% of those who voted for Trump agree.
The survey of 1,054 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on April 1-2 and 5, 2026 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. To see survey question wording, click here.
