A recent YouGov survey reveals that Americans are largely split on the issue of birthright citizenship, with differing opinions on whether all children born in the U.S. should automatically be granted citizenship.
According to the survey, released on Friday, 51 percent of respondents support the idea that “all children born in the U.S. should automatically become citizens.” Meanwhile, 39 percent believe that “children born in the U.S. should automatically become citizens only if their parents are citizens,” and another 9 percent remain uncertain.
The findings highlight a slight partisan divide on the issue. Among those who believe all children born in the U.S. should be granted citizenship, 76 percent are Democrats, 54 percent are independents, and 26 percent are Republicans. On the other hand, 68 percent of Republicans support limiting birthright citizenship only to children whose parents are citizens, compared to 33 percent of independents and 16 percent of Democrats.
Generational differences also play a role in shaping opinions on birthright citizenship. Younger Americans are generally more supportive of granting citizenship to all children born in the country. Among adults under the age of 30, 71 percent favor birthright citizenship for all children, while 20 percent believe it should be granted only if their parents are citizens. The support drops among those aged 30 to 44, with 53 percent supporting birthright citizenship for all children and 36 percent favoring it only for children of citizens.
The trend continues with older age groups. Among those between 45 and 64 years old, only 38 percent support birthright citizenship for all children, while a majority—52 percent—believe it should be reserved for children of U.S. citizens. Among seniors aged 65 and older, opinions shift slightly, with 51 percent supporting birthright citizenship for all children born in the U.S., while 43 percent believe it should apply only to children of citizens.
The debate over birthright citizenship has been a contentious issue in U.S. politics. During his presidency, Donald Trump issued an executive order restricting birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to noncitizen parents. The move sparked concerns from both sides of the political spectrum and led to multiple lawsuits. Several federal judges blocked the executive order, preventing it from being implemented.
More recently, an appeals court rejected the Trump administration’s request to reinstate parts of the executive order limiting birthright citizenship.
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1868, states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Despite this, some Republican lawmakers argue that the amendment has been misinterpreted and exploited in ways its original framers never intended. They believe the language should be revised to clarify birthright citizenship policies.
The survey included responses from 1,124 U.S. adult citizens and was conducted between January 27 and February 2, 2025. The margin of error for the survey is 4.1 percentage points.