Only 1 in 3 Americans Support Ending Birthright Citizenship

Source: YouTube

A new NPR/Ipsos poll shows that fewer than one in three Americans support ending birthright citizenship, the constitutional guarantee that any child born on U.S. soil becomes a citizen. This enduring principle, embedded in the 14th Amendment, has become a focal point of President Trump’s immigration agenda and is now under review by the Supreme Court.

Public opinion on the matter remains largely unchanged since January, with 53% opposed to ending birthright citizenship and only 28% in favor. The issue now joins a series of high-profile legal challenges questioning the limits of presidential power.

What Birthright Citizenship Actually Means

Birthright citizenship, or jus soli, means “right of the soil.” It ensures that anyone born within the territory of the United States, regardless of parentage, is automatically granted U.S. citizenship. This principle was enshrined in the 14th Amendment after the Civil War to guarantee the rights of formerly enslaved people and their descendants.

Supporters say this clause upholds the nation’s founding ideals and reinforces a clear, objective standard for citizenship. Critics argue that the law encourages unauthorized immigration and should be reconsidered in modern times.

Arguments For and Against Ending Birthright Citizenship

Opponents of birthright citizenship reform believe revoking it would create a class of stateless individuals and undermine constitutional protections. Legal scholars widely agree that ending birthright citizenship would require a constitutional amendment and not just an executive order.

Proponents argue that the policy has become outdated and may incentivize misuse of immigration systems. Some cite national security or economic burdens as justification for limiting automatic citizenship.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is now hearing arguments over the legality of President Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship. While the Court is also examining whether lower courts have the authority to issue nationwide injunctions blocking federal policies, the main legal question remains whether the executive branch can reinterpret the 14th Amendment without congressional action.

Who Would Be Affected If Birthright Citizenship Ended Today?

If birthright citizenship were revoked retroactively, millions of Americans could see their legal status questioned. Famous figures like former U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Vice President Kamala Harris, and even children of military personnel born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents would face uncertainty.

Such a shift could destabilize public records, citizenship rights, and social services linked to legal identity, raising due process and equal protection concerns.

As a result, more than 22 states and civil rights groups have sued to block President Trump’s executive order, arguing it violates constitutional protections. Legal experts warn that ending birthright citizenship would introduce significant bureaucratic challenges and increase litigation over who qualifies as an American citizen.

Do you support ending birthright citizenship? Tell us what you think.

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