Majority of Americans see immigrants as a growing problem in their communities

Nothing is more important to America’s sheriffs than securing our nation’s southern and northern borders. We fight every day for a humane and orderly immigration system that addresses the root causes of migration, such as violence and economic instability in their home countries.

We implore the Biden-Harris administration and the U.S. Congress to work with us to ease the pressure on border communities like my home in Cochise County, Arizona.

Our requests to support local law enforcement with resources to address crime, gangs, human trafficking and drug-related problems often go unheard.

Foreign cartels are increasingly using fentanyl and counterfeit drugs, increasing the challenges for communities and law enforcement in combating drug trafficking, distribution, and overdose deaths across the country.

The current president of the NSA, Sheriff Kieran Donahue of Canyon County, Idaho, put it succinctly in a speech this summer: “The Mexican drug cartels” and “failed policies have defined the times we live in. While we fight to protect the front lines, the enemy has come unashamedly through the back door, bringing with them drugs like fentanyl, xylazine, and methamphetamine, along with violence against our citizens, our brothers and sisters in law enforcement, and even our own family members.”

Our recent TIPP Insights research confirms our concerns and reaffirms our efforts to fight for a secure border.

Sharp increase in Americans seeing immigrants as a community problem in the past year: from 50% to 69%

Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants are flooding across the southern border as massive drug cartel attacks bring illegal weapons, national security threats, deadly fentanyl, human trafficking, and the exploitation of children and women into every American community.

Most Americans view migrants crossing the border in their communities as a problem.

A whopping 65% of Americans want the border wall completed or expanded.

Only 29% give Vice President Harris a good rating for addressing the root causes of immigration.

Nearly half blame President Biden and VP Harris for the recent attack on a 12-year-old Wisconsin girl by a Nicaraguan immigrant in Fond du Lac County. Only 39% blame Congress.

Those are the findings of an online TIPP survey of 1,582 Americans across the country, conducted in late August on behalf of the National Sheriffs Association.

Are migrants a problem for communities?

Two in three Americans (69%) think migrants crossing the border are a problem for their community. Twenty-six percent think they are not a problem, and another 5 percent are not sure.

Nearly half (47%) say that it a very big problemand another 22% call it a moderate problem.

Interestingly, the percentage of Americans who believe immigrants are a problem for their community has risen sharply from 50% in May 2023 to 69% this month.

Interestingly, the increase is seen among city dwellers (51% in May 2023 to 69% in September 2024), suburban residents (49% to 66%) and rural residents (49% to 71%).

Moreover, the sentiment is shared by all Americans, regardless of party affiliation. More than half (58%) of Democrats, nine in ten (87%) Republicans, and 61% of independents share the sentiment.

Support for border wall

Two-thirds (65%) agree that the U.S. should complete or expand walls along the U.S.-Mexico border. Nearly half (47%) strongly agree, and another 18% somewhat agree. Republicans (86%) are most supportive of the idea, followed by independents (58%) and Democrats (50%).

Vice President Harris is the driving force behind the efforts

In May 2021, President Biden tasked Vice President Kamala Harris with addressing the root causes of illegal crossings at the southern border. Less than a third (29%) of Americans give her good grades for her efforts. Nearly half (45%) give her a D or F.

Six-in-ten (61%) Democrats give her positive marks; only 10% give her failing grades. Meanwhile, 80% of Republicans give her failing grades and only 9% give her good marks. Nearly half (46%) of independents do not view her favorably, compared to 20% who give her good marks.

Fond du Lac incident

An illegal immigrant from Nicaragua who entered the U.S. in October 2021 is now charged with sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. Nearly half of Americans believe both Biden-Harris policies are responsible for the assault.

More specifically, 48% blame Harris, and a similar share (49%) blame President Biden. The data is very similar for both President Biden and VP Harris.

Fewer Americans (39%) blame Congress.

Surprisingly, even a third of Democrats blame Harris and Biden. Independents blame all three (Biden, Harris and Congress) equally.

About the survey

TechnoMetrica conducted the TIPP online survey for the National Sheriffs’ Association from August 28-30. The nationwide study had a sample of 1,582 Americans aged 18 or older, and TechnoMetrica’s network of panel partners provided the study sample. After completion of the study, TechnoMetrica weighted the study dataset by gender, age, race, education, and geographic region to reflect well-known benchmarks such as the U.S. Census. The survey’s credibility interval (CI) is +/- 2.6 percentage points, meaning the study is accurate to within ± 2.6 percentage points, 19 out of 20 times, if all Americans were surveyed. Due to smaller sample sizes, subgroups based on gender, age, ethnicity, and region have higher credibility intervals.

About the National Sheriffs’ Association

The National Sheriffs’ Association is one of the largest nonprofit organizations of law enforcement professionals in the United States, representing more than 3,000 elected sheriffs nationwide and a total membership of approximately 10,000. NSA is dedicated to increasing professionalism among sheriffs, their deputies, and others in the fields of law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice. Throughout its 83-year history, NSA has also served as an information resource for all law enforcement agencies, as well as local, state, and federal government agencies.