{"id":696882,"date":"2026-03-11T11:00:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T15:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/?p=696882"},"modified":"2026-03-11T11:13:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T15:13:31","slug":"chip50-survey-american-attitudes-immigration-birthright-citizenship-696882","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/chip50-survey-american-attitudes-immigration-birthright-citizenship-696882\/","title":{"rendered":"Study: Americans divided on immigration, but support birthright citizenship"},"content":{"rendered":"

A nationwide survey shows that Americans are fiercely divided over immigration\u2014until the issue turns personal.<\/h2>\n

Americans are sharply divided over immigration policy, particularly enforcement measures, but share common ground on some fundamental issues, including broad support for birthright citizenship.<\/p>\n

Those are the takeaways from a new nationwide survey of more than 30,000 adults across all 50 states conducted by the Civic Health and Institutions Project (CHIP50)<\/strong><\/a>, a nonprofit joint initiative of the University of Rochester<\/a>, Harvard University, Northeastern University, and Rutgers University.<\/p>\n

While the findings highlight deep partisan divisions, they suggest Americans also leave room for nuance when policy matters become personal.<\/p>\n

\u201cImmigration is one of the most polarizing issues in American politics,\u201d says University of Rochester political scientist James Druckman<\/a>, a coauthor of the study and a nationally recognized expert on political polarization<\/a>. \u201cBut when you look closely at the data, you see that Americans will distinguish between different policies and principles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deep partisan divides<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The survey found that roughly two-thirds of Americans say immigration is important to them personally, but revealed stark differences along party lines in how they view policy and enforcement.<\/p>\n

For instance, 37 percent of respondents approve of President Donald Trump\u2019s handling of immigration, while 49 percent disapprove. Among Republicans, however, approval reaches 78 percent, compared with just 11 percent for Democrats.<\/p>\n

Similar divisions appear in attitudes toward federal immigration enforcement efforts. Nationwide, a third of respondents approve of the tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, while nearly half of them disapprove. Yet Republicans are far more supportive of them than Democrats, with the gap reaching almost 60 points.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese differences are among the largest partisan divides we see on any policy issue,\u201d Druckman says.<\/p>\n

Broad support for birthright citizenship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Even as Americans disagree sharply about enforcement, the survey finds majority support for maintaining birthright citizenship, the constitutional principle of the Fourteenth Amendment that grants citizenship to anyone born in the United States, regardless of their parents\u2019 immigration status.<\/p>\n

Nearly 59 percent of Americans support birthright citizenship, whereas 24 percent oppose it. Support crosses party lines, although at different levels. The survey found 79 percent of Democrats, 59 percent of independents, and 39 percent of Republicans favor the policy.<\/p>\n

\"Map
Under the United States Constitution, all children born in the country automatically receive US citizenship. Do you think that the children of non-citizens born in the US should continue to receive automatic citizenship? (Percent Yes)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Support also extends across the country geographically. Support for birthright citizenship fell below 50 percent in just three states\u2014Montana (46 percent), Wyoming (47 percent), and South Dakota (48 percent).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe relative consistency of support\u2014at least compared to enforcement attitudes\u2014suggests that Americans distinguish between debates over immigration enforcement and long-standing constitutional norms,\u201d Druckman says.<\/p>\n

A shift when policy gets personal<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although Americans often express strong views about immigration broadly, the survey shows that opinions shift when policy gets personal.<\/p>\n

About one in four respondents say they worry that a family member or close friend could be deported, while about one in five say they personally know someone who is undocumented. Those concerns nearly double among Hispanic Americans.<\/p>\n

The nuance plays out when Americans are asked their thoughts on deporting undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States for more than 10 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmericans may support enforcement in principle but become more hesitant when policies affect people who have built lives in the United States.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Just 31 percent favor the idea of deporting longtime undocumented residents, including only half of Republicans, who widely favor stricter enforcement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat suggests Americans may support enforcement in principle but become more hesitant when policies affect people who have built lives in the United States,\u201d Druckman says.<\/p>\n

More aggressive enforcement proposals also face limited national support. Only about a third of Americans support using the military to assist with mass deportations.<\/p>\n

Taken together, the findings suggest immigration remains a complex issue for American voters\u2014one marked by sharp partisan divides but also pockets of potential agreement.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople may have very different ideas about how immigration should be handled,\u201d Druckman says. \u201cBut the data show that their views are often more nuanced than the political conversation might suggest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

For the media<\/strong><\/h3>\n

James Druckman<\/strong>
\n\"CircleMartin Brewer Anderson Professor of Political Science<\/em><\/h4>\n

An expert in political behavior and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Druckman studies public opinion formation, political polarization, political and scientific communication, political psychology, and experimental and survey methods. He has published approximately 200 articles and book chapters. His latest coauthored book, Partisan Hostility and American Democracy: Explaining Political Divisions and When They Matter<\/em><\/a> (University of Chicago), was published in 2024.<\/p>\n