NSA/TIPP Survey: Americans See The Southern Border As A National Security Threat, Want Strong Enforcement Of Existing Laws And More Mexican Cooperation

Sheriff Mark Dannels -

Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants are flooding the southern border, and Washington has few plans to halt the massive onslaught of cartels, bringing additional illegal guns, national security threats, deadly fentanyl, human trafficking, and child and female exploitation into every American community.

Nearly three-fourths (72%) of Americans perceive the southern border situation as a national security threat. Another 72% want strong enforcement of existing laws. Further, an overwhelming majority (83%) want more cooperation from Mexico in alleviating human suffering at the border. Those are the findings of an online nationwide TIPP survey of 1,402 Americans conducted from January 31 to February 2 for the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA). The credibility interval for the survey is +/- 2.7 percentage points.

The National Sheriffs’ Association came out against legislation recently released by the U.S. Senate. The bill would simplify the process of entry at the expense of border security. National security should be the top priority for every administration. The legislation ignores the political, social, and economic domination of our borders by the cartels, which are more powerful than the terrorists who brought down the World Trade Center. This crisis has caused more than 35-times the number of deaths to American citizens in a one-year period than was inflicted upon the United States on 9/11.

The 370-page bill raises serious questions about the changes to existing asylum and parole rules that are vital to every American. It will not deter but embolden unlawful immigration. We support actions that secure the borders, not actions that encourage illegal entry.

The President refuses to acknowledge and exercise his full authority to secure our borders. For example, current law (INA section 212(f)) grants the President and his Administration the authority to control border crossings.

As NSA President Greg Champagne said:

It is long past time for the President and Congress to take responsibility for the safety and security of the American people.

National Security Threat

Nearly three-fourths (72%) say the situation at the southern border presents a serious national security threat, while only one in five (20%) do not think so. A majority of individuals from the 36 demographic groups we analyzed concur. By party and ideology, the share that believes the situation poses a national security threat:

  • 67% of Democrats
  • 70% of Republicans
  • 65% of independents
  • 91% of conservatives
  • 70% of moderates
  • 54% of liberals

Enforcement Of Existing Laws

Most Americans (72%) believe the situation at the southern border can be alleviated with strong enforcement of existing laws. Again, there is a broad consensus, with 35 of the 36 demographic groups sharing the opinion. The only exception was those in the 18 to 25 age bracket, with 45% saying it could alleviate the crisis compared to 30% who don’t think so.

By party and ideology, the shares who agree that strong enforcement of existing laws could alleviate the situation:

  • 70% of Democrats
  • 78% of Republicans
  • 66% of independents
  • 85% of conservatives
  • 67% of moderates
  • 64% of liberals

Mexico’s Cooperation

Further, an overwhelming majority, 83%, believe that Mexico must cooperate to ease human suffering on the southern border. Most Americans share this belief across all 36 demographic groups analyzed in the NSA/TIPP Poll. In terms of party and ideology, the share of those who want Mexico to cooperate much more in helping to alleviate human suffering is:

81% of Democrats
87% of Republicans
82% of independents
90% of conservatives
81% of moderates
80% of liberals

About The Survey

TechnoMetrica conducted the TIPP online survey for the National Sheriffs' Association from January 31 to February 2.  The nationwide study had a sample of 1,402 Americans, 18 or older, and TechnoMetrica's network of panel partners provided the study sample. Upon the study completion, TechnoMetrica weighted the study dataset by gender, age, race, education, and geographical region to mirror known benchmarks such as the U.S. Census. The survey’s credibility interval (CI) is +/- 2.7 percentage points, meaning the study is accurate to within ± 2.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Americans been 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 non-profit associations of law enforcement professionals in the United States, representing more than 3,000 elected sheriffs across the nation and with a total membership of approximately 10,000 individuals. NSA is dedicated to raising the level of professionalism among sheriffs, their deputies, and others in the field of law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice. Throughout its eighty-three-year history, NSA has also served as an information resource for all law enforcement, as well as local, state, and federal government agencies.

Sheriff Mark Dannels (Cochise County, AZ) is the Chair of the National Sheriffs’ Association Border Security Committee.