This survey, conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research among over 2,500 US adults, indicates that around 60% believe the country was once a great place for immigrants but has lost that status. About one-third of respondents—and over half of Hispanic adults—report that in the past year, they or someone they know has had to carry proof of immigration status or US citizenship, faced detention or deportation, altered travel plans, or significantly changed daily routines due to concerns about immigration status.
The poll emerges as the Supreme Court deliberates whether the Trump administration can limit birthright citizenship, amidst ongoing sweeping immigration operations and mass deportations.
Reid Gibson, a retired independent from Missouri, is outraged by the way immigrants are treated under the Trump administration. He hopes that America can become more welcoming in the future, though he fears “it may take many years to undo the harm caused by the Trump administration’s policies.”
The survey shows that many Americans are aware of individuals affected by these policies. Gibson’s stepdaughter, for instance, has begun carrying her passport due to fears that her darker skin might attract attention during immigration crackdowns.
“It’s just plain wrong,” said Gibson, 72. “This is not a good country for immigrants anymore.”
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Many US adults have modified their lives in response to increased immigration enforcement over the past year, coinciding with Trump’s efforts to ramp up detentions and execute the largest deportation campaign in American history.
Democrats are more likely than independents or Republicans to personally know someone affected by these policies, and those with such connections are more inclined to believe that the US is no longer a great place for immigrants.
Kathy Bailey, a 79-year-old Democrat from Illinois, has noticed the effects of the administration’s immigration policies in her small-town swim class. She shared that two naturalized citizens in the class have begun taking their passports when leaving home. One woman, originally from Latin America, has been particularly anxious about standing out in a predominantly white area.
“She’s an American citizen now, yet she feels so afraid she must carry her passport,” Bailey stated. “She’s just an ordinary sweet grandmother swimming at 5 in the morning.”
About 60% of Hispanic adults report that they or someone they know has been affected by immigration enforcement, a significantly higher percentage compared to Black or white adults.
“This is horrible for these women!” Bailey exclaimed. “I’m just shocked at what our situation has come to.”
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Nick Grivas, a 40-year-old from Massachusetts, feels the impact of the president’s policies through the story of his grandfather, who immigrated from Greece. This connection fuels his belief that the US has ceased to be a beacon of hope for those seeking new beginnings.
“We can observe how we treat children and the offspring of immigrants, and we’re not recognizing their potential to become future Americans,” Grivas remarked.
Approximately 30% of US adults maintain that the US is a great place for immigrants, while about 10% believe it never was. This sentiment is more prevalent among Democrats and independents, as well as those born outside the US.
Grivas, a Democrat, expresses concern that restrictive federal immigration policies could hinder the country by discouraging newcomers from investing in their local communities, particularly if they feel uncertain about their ability to stay.
“You’re less inclined to commit to a project if you doubt your ability to remain,” he noted.
The Supreme Court has recently heard arguments over President Donald Trump’s attempts to limit birthright citizenship by asserting that children born to parents here illegally or temporarily do not qualify as American citizens.
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About two-thirds of US adults in the poll believe that automatic citizenship should be granted to all children born in the country, a perspective that resonates with most Democrats and independents. In contrast, Republican support for birthright citizenship sits at only 44%. The poll also reveals that some individuals feel conflicted, stating general support for birthright citizenship while opposing it in certain specific scenarios.
Among those against automatic citizenship is Linda Steele, a 70-year-old from Florida, who asserts that only children born to American citizens should receive citizenship. Steele, a Republican, holds the view that foreigners residing legally in the US—whether for work or other reasons—should not have a child who automatically acquires US citizenship.
“That shouldn’t be permitted,” she remarked. “They are merely here visiting or attending school.”
When presented with specific situations, around 60% of US adults support birthright citizenship for children born to parents on legal U.S. tourist visas, while only about half support it for children of parents living in the country illegally. A larger majority, 75%, favors automatic citizenship for children born to parents here legally on work visas, with a notable portion of this support stemming from Republicans who regard this as acceptable.
Kevin Craig, a 57-year-old from Wilmington, North Carolina, opposes automatic citizenship. Craig, who leans conservative, believes there should be “at least some opportunity for intervention by a human being who can make some sort of a judgment.”
However, he added: “In my personal opinion, I can’t conceive of a situation where it wouldn’t be granted.”
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