Most Americans Oppose Ending Birthright Citizenship, New Poll Finds

Tone & Political Bias: Moderately Left-Leaning

Why: Focuses on civil rights concerns, criticizes the lack of due process, and includes more quotes from dissenting voices than supporters of the policy.

Supreme Court Reviews Trump’s Push to End Birthright Citizenship

As the Supreme Court hears arguments on former President Donald Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship, a new NPR/Ipsos poll shows most Americans do not support the move. Only 28% support ending the automatic granting of citizenship to children born in the U.S., a principle that has existed since the 14th Amendment was ratified.

The poll of 1,019 Americans, conducted between May 9 and 11, shows that 53% oppose Trump’s plan. The results have remained stable since February, indicating little public momentum behind efforts to alter birthright rules.

Trump’s Immigration Policies Still Polarizing

While birthright citizenship draws limited support, other parts of Trump’s immigration strategy have deeper backing. Nearly half of the respondents support fast-tracking the deportation of alleged gang members under the Alien Enemies Act—an 18th-century wartime law. This includes members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, according to the administration.

However, some deportations have been questioned, with critics pointing out that tattoos alone were used as evidence of gang affiliation. The White House has released little verifiable proof tying the deported men to gang activity.

Public Split on Mass Deportations

When it comes to broader deportation plans, Americans are divided. Trump’s promise of the largest deportation operation in U.S. history has support from 40% of respondents, while 42% oppose it. This is nearly unchanged from previous polling in February.

Among political independents, support for mass deportations has declined from 44% to 37%. That drop—while within the poll’s margin of error—suggests growing discomfort among centrist voters.

Crystal Thomas, a Republican-leaning independent from Kentucky, said she now questions Trump’s crackdown. “It’s too much,” she said, expressing concern for immigrant families living in her community.

Conflicted Views on Legal Rights for Immigrants

The poll also explored public opinion on due process and constitutional protections for immigrants. Here, opinions were mixed.

45% believe First Amendment rights, including free speech, should apply to all immigrants regardless of legal status.
Fewer than one-third support canceling student visas for international students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests.
However, 46% agree with Trump’s position that trials for millions of undocumented immigrants take too long, and many support deporting them without hearings.
A significant number say immigrants in the country illegally should not be entitled to constitutional rights.

Randy Crabtree, a Trump voter from Ohio, said, “The Constitution was written for citizens.” But legal scholars note that the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments protect “persons,” not just citizens, from being deprived of liberty without due process.

Stories Highlight Concerns Over Errors and Rights Violations

Several personal stories highlighted fears over the consequences of fast-track deportations. Catherine Welty, a Democratic voter in Arizona, said she was alarmed by the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man wrongfully deported to El Salvador, and similar incidents involving Venezuelan men.

Welty, who describes herself as multiracial, said she fears her own son could be targeted due to his appearance. “They just don’t seem to care if mistakes are happening,” she said.

Partisan Divide Evident

The divide over immigration remains deeply partisan:

Nearly 80% of Republicans support using the Alien Enemies Act for gang-related deportations.
Only about 25% of Democrats support the same approach.
On birthright citizenship, support is limited across all groups but is higher among Republicans.

Mallory Newall of Ipsos noted, “The American public sees a lot of shades of gray around immigration.” That complexity may explain why most views remain stable, even as the debate intensifies in courts and politics.