Reuters/Ipsos survey shows public divisions on immigration, transgender sports participation, voting rules and redistricting ahead of key court rulings.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A majority of Americans support maintaining birthright citizenship as the Supreme Court of the United States prepares to rule on a policy advanced by Donald Trump seeking to end the practice, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll.
The nationwide survey, conducted April 15–20, found that 64% of respondents oppose eliminating automatic citizenship for children born in the United States, while 32% support ending it. The issue is now before the court following Trump’s January 2025 executive order, which was subsequently challenged in the judicial system. A decision is expected by the end of June.
The Supreme Court, which currently holds a 6-3 conservative majority, heard arguments earlier this month. Observers noted that the justices appeared unlikely to uphold the administration’s position during April 1 proceedings, though a final ruling has not yet been issued.
Public opinion on birthright citizenship reflects sharp partisan differences. Among Democrats, only 9% support ending the policy, while Republican respondents are more divided, with 62% favoring its elimination and 36% opposing changes.
The upcoming decision is one of several anticipated rulings that could shape national policy ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The court is also considering cases involving transgender participation in athletics, mail-in ballot procedures and congressional redistricting.
On the issue of transgender athletes, the poll found that 67% of respondents support restrictions on transgender girls and women competing in female school sports. Support among Republicans reached 92%, while 44% of Democrats expressed agreement with such measures. Cases from Idaho and West Virginia are expected to clarify whether states may enforce these restrictions.
The court is also reviewing policies related to mail-in voting. According to the survey, 65% of Americans support counting ballots postmarked by Election Day even if they arrive days later. Support for this approach was higher among Democrats at 85%, compared with 51% of Republicans.
Another case before the court concerns congressional district maps in Louisiana designed to increase the number of majority-Black districts from one to two. A group of plaintiffs has challenged the map, arguing that race was given undue weight in the redistricting process.
Survey results indicate nuanced public views on the issue. Seventy-five percent of respondents said race should not be a factor in drawing congressional maps, including 65% of Black respondents. However, about half of all respondents—and 60% of Black respondents—said communities sharing characteristics such as race should be represented within the same districts.
The Supreme Court has issued several high-profile rulings in recent years, including decisions expanding gun rights, limiting race-conscious college admissions policies and reducing the authority of certain federal agencies. Public opinion of the court has become more polarized over time. In a March Reuters/Ipsos survey, 70% of Republicans reported a favorable view of the court, compared with 27% of Democrats.
The April poll included responses from 4,557 U.S. adults and carried a margin of error of approximately two percentage points.
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