Wong Kim Ark, born to undocumented Chinese immigrants in San Francisco, 1873. Image via Wikimedia
Q1. To which parents do you think a person born in the US should automatically become a citizen of the US? (check all that apply)
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Parents are both US citizens
78%
77%
79%
73%
82%
82%
84%
78%
81%
70%
One parent a citizen
76%
73%
77%
65%
86%
84%
76%
79%
74%
74%
Parents not citizens, permanent legal residents
55%
51%
59%
28%
67%
78%
59%
62%
52%
49%
Not citizens, legally working in US
43%
35%
50%
9%
54%
73%
53%
47%
37%
41%
Not citizens, legally visiting
34%
28%
39%
7%
42%
59%
43%
38%
30%
30%
Not citizens, undocumented
36%
28%
41%
5%
44%
63%
44%
38%
32%
33%
None — no birthright citizenship for anyone
4%
7%
2%
8%
1%
1%
8%
1%
5%
4%
Not sure
1%
0%
2%
0%
5%
1%
2%
1%
1%
1%
Don't care
0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
0%
1%
0%
0%
Q2. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution (ratified 1866) states "All persons born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."
In 1898, the Supreme Court heard a case on the citizenship of Wong Kim Ark, born to undocumented Chinese parents in 1873. One side argued the Amendment was meant to provide citizenship to the children of slaves, not other undocumented people, but the Court ruled that the Amendment "clearly" applied to everyone (save the children of diplomats, who were not under the jurisdiction of the US) and by 6-2 Wong was ruled to be a citizen.
Did the Supreme Court interpret the Amendment correctly?
(Note: Wong's parents entered the US before there was a federal immigration service, and thus before there were such concepts as illegal immigration or undocumented immigrants.)
In 1898, the Supreme Court heard a case on the citizenship of Wong Kim Ark, born to undocumented Chinese parents in 1873. One side argued the Amendment was meant to provide citizenship to the children of slaves, not other undocumented people, but the Court ruled that the Amendment "clearly" applied to everyone (save the children of diplomats, who were not under the jurisdiction of the US) and by 6-2 Wong was ruled to be a citizen.
Did the Supreme Court interpret the Amendment correctly?
(Note: Wong's parents entered the US before there was a federal immigration service, and thus before there were such concepts as illegal immigration or undocumented immigrants.)
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Yes
63%
55%
69%
31%
77%
90%
68%
65%
59%
63%
No
31%
37%
26%
59%
18%
7%
25%
28%
35%
32%
Don't know
5%
6%
4%
8%
5%
2%
0%
6%
6%
5%
Don't care
1%
3%
0%
3%
0%
0%
8%
0%
0%
Q3. On Inauguration Day 2025, President Trump issued an executive order ending birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented parents.
The order has been challenged in the courts by those who say the Amendment clearly applies to everyone, including children of undocumented people, a view upheld by courts since 1898.
The Trump administration counters that undocumented people are not subject to US jurisdiction, thus neither are their children, hence the 14th Amendment excludes such children from birthright citizenship.
Who is legally correct, and who will win the case?
The order has been challenged in the courts by those who say the Amendment clearly applies to everyone, including children of undocumented people, a view upheld by courts since 1898.
The Trump administration counters that undocumented people are not subject to US jurisdiction, thus neither are their children, hence the 14th Amendment excludes such children from birthright citizenship.
Who is legally correct, and who will win the case?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Don't care
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
0%
45% support ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented (39% supported the policy a year earlier, in a poll in which it was not attributed to Trump)
Map of where birthright citizen is unrestricted/restricted/nonexisted around the world
Poll Comments (80)
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