A new CNN poll finds the public divided on whether the Constitution should be amended to end birthright citizenship. The survey of 1,009 adults reports that 49% favor changing the Constitution to prevent the children of non-citizens from gaining automatic citizenship when born in the United States, while 51% oppose such a change.
Recently, a number of Republicans — including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner — have opened the door to considering changes to the 14th Amendment, which has guaranteed birthright citizenship since 1868. Several Republicans claim the amendment rewards illegal immigrants who have so-called “anchor babies,” children born as citizens in the United States to non-citizen parents. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said the push to repeal the 14th Amendment is evidence that Republicans have “either taken leave of their senses or their principles.”
The poll has a margin of error of ±3.0 percentage points.
(h/t Greg Sargent).
