A recent surge in public opinion indicates growing support for President Donald Trump’s controversial efforts to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented migrants, according to new polling data.
The Emerson College poll conducted post-inauguration from January 27 to 28, 2025, reveals 45 percent of Americans backs Trump’s executive order aimed at restricting birthright citizenship to children of migrants on temporary visas or those illegally residing in the U.S. This contrasts with 37 percent who oppose the initiative. Notably, 19 percent remain neutral or lack a definitive opinion.
The sampling consisted of 1,000 registered U.S. voters, utilizing methodologies ensuring diverse representation across party lines, gender, race, and age. This method bolsters the study’s credibility, with a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
Party affiliation plays a significant role in the results: 69 percent of Republicans support ending birthright citizenship, compared to only 25 percent of Democrats and 38 percent of Independents. The Southern U.S. is particularly poised on the issue, where 51 percent of respondents expressed support for Trump’s directive. Among ethnic groups, Latino respondents showed the most opposition at 42 percent, though 39 percent also supported the initiative.
While the birthright citizenship move garners attention, significant support exists for pathways to citizenship for undocumented migrants, with 56 percent favoring such pathways and only 24 percent opposed. This duality reflects the complex attitudes Americans hold toward immigration issues.
Supplementing these findings, the Ipsos poll conducted from January 24 to 26, 2025, indicates mixed feelings overall about Trump's administration's first-week actions. A commanding 61 percent of respondents supported downsizing the federal government, but sentiments remain closely divided on easing restrictions on fossil fuel drilling (48 percent support versus 47 percent oppose) and other initiatives like requiring federal employees to work from offices rather than remotely.
The Ipsos poll reveals opposition to several executive measures: only 36 percent support ending birthright citizenship, with 59 percent against. These figures suggest the population's wary yet shifting perceptions toward Trump's policies.
The newly elected president appears to be experiencing increases in approval ratings, reflecting a cautiously optimistic public sentiment. According to Emerson College, 49 percent of surveyed voters approve of Trump's performance, yielding a net positive rating of +8 percent. This is particularly noteworthy as it stands as the lowest disapproval rating observed across Emerson polls since his first term.
"President Trump’s 49% job approval rating closely reflects his share of national support in the 2024 election, showcasing notable changes just after his inauguration," stated Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.
This newfound optimism is significant, shifting from earlier polling conducted on January 14, where 67 percent of respondents perceived the nation as being on the wrong track. Only two weeks later, 52 percent now believe the U.S. is heading toward progress.
The Emerson results indicate another area of division among voters with respect to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies. Survey findings showed Americans nearly evenly split over allowing ICE to conduct searches within schools and churches, 41 percent support and 44 percent oppose. These aggregates of perspectives embody the national discourse surrounding immigration policy under Trump.
With such polarized views, the path forward for immigration policies remains unclear, but the increasing support for curbing birthright citizenship suggests Trump’s agenda may resonate with many voters. This trend, coupled with his rising approval ratings, provides fertile ground for upcoming discussions about immigration reform and overall public sentiment surrounding Trump's continuing presidency.
The juxtaposition of support for ending birthright citizenship against the backdrop of citizenship pathways demonstrates the multifaceted nature of American attitudes toward immigration reform. While Trump’s presidency has prompted sharp divisions, polls indicate room for negotiation on the broader immigration narrative.
These developments may strongly influence legislative discussions as Trump continues to address immigration within his administration's broader agenda, highlighting the importance of public opinion as it stands today.