New research from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that about 6 in 10 Americans believe the country is no longer a great place for immigrants. The survey indicates that approximately one-third of the general population (a rate that exceeds half among Hispanic adults) reports that they or acquaintances have suffered direct impacts from immigration policies in the last year. They also reported the need to carry proof of citizenship and cases of detentions, deportations, or significant changes in daily routines and travel plans. This perception of a decline in the nation's receptiveness occurs during a period of intensified control measures and discussions about restrictions on birthright citizenship.

The reality experienced by immigrants in the United States has undergone profound transformations after months of intensified immigration control measures throughout the country. Currently, public perception reflects this hardening, as few Americans consider the country an ideal place for immigrants today, although they recognize that this has been a historical characteristic of the nation.

Data collected between April 16 and 20, 2026, indicate that 65% of the adult population believes that the United States was once a great place for immigrants but is no longer, while only 27% maintain an optimistic view of the current situation. A 10% share categorically states that the country has never represented a favorable environment for this group.

This scenario of uncertainty extends to the legal and social debate about the right to citizenship by birth, a topic that has gained new dimensions with the Supreme Court's analysis of possible limits to this precept. Recently, the court examined the arguments of President Donald Trump, who seeks to restrict the benefit to children born to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily.

Public opinion on the subject is complex and sometimes ambivalent. Although 65% of American adults generally support the automatic granting of citizenship to all children born on American soil, support fluctuates drastically depending on the legal status of the parents. For example, according to the survey, three-quarters of the population support citizenship for children of work visa holders, but this rate drops to 58% when it comes to parents with tourist visas and is equally divided when the parents are in an illegal situation.

Political polarization accentuates these divisions, with most Democrats and independents favoring automatic citizenship, while only 44% of Republicans share this position. Alongside ideological discussions, concerns about immigration status are already having practical effects on the daily lives of a quarter of Americans.

The survey was conducted with 2,596 adults through the NORC AmeriSpeak® panel at the University of Chicago, presenting a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points and reflecting the tumultuous national dialogue about the identity and future of immigration in the country.