A new poll reveals that even among those who support President Donald Trump's immigration agenda, there is significant wariness regarding his executive order to revoke birthright citizenship for children of certain immigrants. The survey, conducted by Marquette Law School, found that most Americans believe the Supreme Court should strike down the order, which limits birthright citizenship to children born to parents who are in the United States legally and permanently.
Supporters Divided on Constitutionality
Among those who approve of Trump's handling of immigration, 41 percent say the executive order should be found unconstitutional, while 59 percent believe the high court should uphold it. Among Republicans, the uncertainty is even more pronounced, with 46 percent stating that Trump's order is unconstitutional. These findings indicate that even the president's supporters are uncertain about his ability to limit the 14th Amendment, which has guaranteed citizenship to anyone born in the United States since 1898.
Executive Order and Legal Challenges
On his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order declaring that only children born in the U.S. to a parent with citizenship or permanent immigration status could obtain American citizenship. This was part of his broader agenda to limit migration and remove immigrants from the country. The order was immediately challenged and has since made its way to the Supreme Court, which heard arguments earlier this month. Justices appeared skeptical that the president had the authority to limit birthright citizenship, which has been extended to all people born in the country since 1898.
Potential Consequences
Immigration advocacy groups and legal experts have warned that ending birthright citizenship would create logistical challenges for every parent in the U.S. and limit essential healthcare for pregnant women and babies. Some fear that allowing the president to do so would open the door for the government to create other qualifying rules for citizenship.
Public Opinion Polls
The Marquette Law School survey aligns with other polls that show people are generally divided on whether children of undocumented immigrants should have citizenship. A Pew Research Center poll conducted last year found that 75 percent of Republicans think children of parents who immigrated illegally should not have citizenship. A YouGov poll earlier this year found that 68 percent of Republicans think birthright citizenship should be limited to children of parents with citizenship or permanent legal status. However, a Public Religion Research Institute poll from last year found that approximately 47 percent of Republicans favor the U.S. Constitution's birthright citizenship right.
