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Similar numbers of each of these groups (between 65% and 79% of all political groups, between 60% and 77% of all political philosophies and 80% of Tea Party supporters) also agree that babies born on American soil should need a parent who is a permanent resident of the U.S. in order to become an automatic citizen; and, While the agreement is less strong across all groups, 53% of U.S. adults also say that in order to limit these birthing trips the U.S. should screen for pregnancy before allowing foreigners into the country two thirds of Republicans (64%), Conservatives (66%) and Tea Party Supporters (66%) say this and just about half of Democrats (48%), Independents (50%) and Moderates (52%) do yet in this case only 36% of Liberals agree. So What? This poll raises some interesting questions, yet the responses showing bi-partisan agreement across several issues and opinion statements is even more interesting. Although immigration has been a politically divisive topic, the issue of maternity tourism is slightly different it is claimed that many foreigners participating in maternity tourism have no intention of permanently settling in the United States. Rather, they enter the U.S., obtain citizenship for their newborn baby, and then return (with the child) to their home country. While its unclear how widespread this practice is, this poll makes clear that Americans see it as an abuse of our system, which they would like to prevent. It will be interesting if legislators pursue this at all, or even if it can be determined how common the practice may be.
TABLE 1 FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT On another subject, the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees American citizenship to any person born in the United States. Do you think this is a good law or a bad law? Base: All adults Party ID Tea Political Philosophy Total Party Rep. Dem. Ind. Cons. Mod. Lib. Support % % % % % % % % Good (NET) 66 58 76 66 56 53 69 84 Very good 40 27 52 39 28 29 39 60 Somewhat good 27 31 23 27 28 24 30 23 Bad (NET) 27 38 18 25 40 41 24 12 Somewhat bad 17 22 12 14 23 21 17 8 Very bad 10 15 6 11 17 19 7 4 Not at all sure 6 4 6 9 4 7 7 4 Note: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding TABLE 2 PREGNANT FOREIGNERS AND BIRTHING TRIPS Some pregnant foreigners arrange trips to the United States, specifically timed so that they give birth during their stay, making any child born an automatic U.S. citizen. Do you think the U.S. Constitution should be changed to no longer allow for this? Base: All adults Party ID Tea Political Philosophy Total Party Rep. Dem. Ind. Cons. Mod. Lib. Support % % % % % % % % Should (NET) 67 79 54 70 81 75 67 52 Definitely should 45 62 31 44 63 60 39 33 Probably should 22 17 23 26 19 15 28 19 Should not (NET) 23 15 32 21 14 18 22 35 Probably should not 10 9 13 10 6 7 11 15 Definitely should not 13 7 19 11 8 11 11 20 Not at all sure 10 5 14 9 4 7 11 13 Note: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 3A AGREEMENT WITH STATEMENTS RELATED TO MATERNITY TOURISM How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements related to maternity tourism, or these birthing trips? Base: All adults Agree Strongly Somewhat Disagree Somewhat Strongly Not at (NET) agree agree (NET) disagree disagree all sure % % % % % % % Babies born in the U.S. should need an American citizen as their 72 53 20 22 9 13 6 parent in order to become an automatic U.S. citizen. Babies born on American soil should need a parent who is a permanent resident of the U.S. in 72 48 23 22 10 11 7 order to become an automatic citizen. In order to limit these birthing trips the U.S. should screen for 53 30 23 37 16 22 9 pregnancy before allowing foreigners into the country. It is appropriate that any baby born on U.S. soil is an automatic 36 18 18 58 23 35 6 citizen of the U.S. Note: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding TABLE 3B AGREEMENT WITH STATEMENTS RELATED TO MATERNITY TOURISM How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements related to maternity tourism, or these birthing trips? Summary of those saying Strongly agree or Somewhat agree Base: All adults Party ID Tea Political Philosophy Total Party Rep. Dem. Ind. Cons. Mod. Lib. Support % % % % % % % % Babies born in the U.S. should need an American citizen as their parent in order 72 84 63 74 85 84 72 53 to become an automatic U.S. citizen. Babies born on American soil should need a parent who is a permanent resident of 72 79 65 75 80 77 73 60 the U.S. in order to become an automatic citizen. In order to limit these birthing trips the U.S. should screen for pregnancy before 53 64 48 50 66 65 52 36 allowing foreigners into the country. It is appropriate that any baby born on 36 25 46 38 27 28 35 55 U.S. soil is an automatic citizen of the U.S. Note: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding
Methodology This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States between May 9 to 16, 2011 among 2,184 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents propensity to be online. All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words margin of error as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal. Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive. J40013 Q835, 840, 845
The Harris Poll #74, June 21, 2011 By Samantha Braverman, Sr. Project Researcher, Harris Interactive