(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in the United States believe the government should not grant citizenship to children born in the country to illegal immigrants, according to a poll by Zogby Interactive released by UPI. 55.6 per cent of respondents disagree with this policy, while 41.1 per cent support it.

The U.S. Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment reads: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside." In the 1982 Plyer v. Doe ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court implied that children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants qualify for birthright citizenship, since "no plausible distinction with respect to Fourteenth Amendment 'jurisdiction' can be drawn between resident aliens whose entry into the United States was lawful, and resident aliens whose entry was unlawful."

In March 2006, the Pew Hispanic Center calculated the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. at somewhere between 11.5 million to 12 million. In 2005, the same center estimated that about 3.1 million children, who are U.S. citizens by birth, live in families in which at least one spouse is an illegal resident.

In May 2006, U.S. president George W. Bush addressed the nation to discuss his immigration proposals. Bush outlined five clear objectives: securing the borders, creating a temporary worker program, holding employers to account for the workers they hire, allowing illegal immigrants "who have roots" in the country to apply for citizenship, and helping newcomers assimilate into American society.

Last month, the U.S. Senate discussed a revised immigration bill, which would allow illegal immigrants to come forward and obtain a "Z visa." After paying fees, a $5,000 U.S. fine and then returning to their home countries, they could apply for permanent residency, which could be granted in eight to 13 years. The bill also includes a proposal to introduce a points system that would prioritize access to the U.S. for skilled and educated immigrants, as well as new family-reunification guidelines.

On Jun. 7, the U.S. Senate voted 45-50 on a motion to limit debate on the proposed immigration bill. Members of both the Republican and Democratic parties have suggested shifting the bill's focus towards national security as a way to save it from its current stalemate.

Republican Mississippi state lawmaker Mike Lott has publicly opposed most of the bill's provisions, and called for repealing the statute that allows the children of illegal immigrants born in the U.S. to become citizens. Lott declared recently: "This dangerous piece of legislation focuses on what we can do to help those who have broken American law to get into this country, instead of focusing on what this problem is costing American taxpayers and how it is adversely affecting our nation."

Polling Data

Do you agree or disagree with the policy of granting U.S. citizenship to children born to illegal immigrants in U.S. soil?

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