Poll: Americans against maternity tourism

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NEW YORK, June 22 (UPI) -- Two-thirds of U.S. residents think the Constitution should be changed to keep out pregnant foreigners seeking citizenship for the children, a poll indicates.

Regarding foreigners who arrange trips to the United States specifically timed so that they give birth during their stay, making any child born a U.S. citizen, 67 percent of U.S. adults surveyed said the Constitution should be changed to no longer allow for this, a Harris poll released Wednesday found.

At issue are so-called "maternity tourists" taking advantage of the Fourteenth Amendment, guaranteeing citizenship to any person born in the United States.

The majority poll response was shared across all political parties and philosophies, Harris said, with 79 percent of Republicans saying the Constitution should be changed, along with 70 percent of Independents and 54 percent of Democrats.

The poll was conducted online within the United States between May 9 and 16 among 2,184 adults aged 18 and over.