Nothing is more important to America’s sheriffs then securing our nation’s southern and northern borders. We fight daily 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 reduce the pressure on border communities, such as my home in Cochise County, AZ.
Our pleas to support local law enforcement with resources to manage crime, gang, human trafficking and drug-related issues regularly go unheard.
Foreign cartels are surging fentanyl and counterfeit drugs, exacerbating challenges for communities and law enforcement in combating drug trafficking, distribution and overdose deaths across the country.
The NSA current president, Canyon County, Idaho, Sheriff Kieran Donahue, succinctly stated at a speech this summer that: “the Mexican Drug Cartels” and “failed policies have defined the times we live in. While we fight to protect the front line, the enemy has been allowed to walk in unabashedly through the back door. Bringing with them drugs like fentanyl, xylazine, and meth, along with violence to our citizens, our brothers and sisters in law enforcement, and even our own family members.”
Our recent TIPP Insights survey verifies our concerns and reaffirms our efforts to fight for a secure border.
Sharp Rise in Americans Viewing Migrants as a Community Problem in the past year: Up from 50% to 69%
Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants are flooding the southern border as the massive onslaught of cartels brings illegal guns, national security threats, deadly fentanyl, human trafficking, and child and female exploitation into every American community.
Most Americans see migrants crossing the border in their communities as a problem.
Fully 65% of Americans want the border wall completed or expanded.
Only 29% give good grades to Vice President Harris for addressing the root causes of immigration.
Nearly half blame President Biden and VP Harris for the recent assault of a 12-year-old Wisconsin girl by a Nicaraguan immigrant in Fond du Lac County. Only 39% blame the Congress.
Those are the findings of an online TIPP survey of 1,582 Americans nationwide completed in late August for the National Sheriffs Association.
Are Migrants A Problem For Communities?
Two in three Americans (69%) think migrants crossing the border is a problem for their community. 26% think they are not a problem, and another 5% are unsure.
Nearly one-half (47%) say it is a very big problem, and another 22% call it a moderate problem.
Interestingly, the share of Americans who think migrants are a problem for their community has increased sharply from 50% in May 2023 to 69% this month.
Interestingly, the increase is seen among urban residents (51% in May 2023 to 69% in September 2024), suburbanites (49% to 66%), and rural dwellers (49% to 71%).
Further, the feeling is shared by all Americans irrespective of their party affiliation. Over one-half (58%) of Democrats, nine in ten (87%) Republicans, and 61% of independents share the feeling.
Support For Border Wall
Two-thirds (65%) agree that the U.S. must complete or expand walls along the U.S.-Mexico border. Nearly one-half (47%) agree strongly, and another 18% agree somewhat. Republicans (86%) are the most supportive of the idea, followed by independents (58%) and Democrats (50%).
Vice President Harris Root Causes Efforts
In May 2021, President Biden tasked Vice President Kamala Harris with addressing the root causes of illegal crossings at the Southern border. Fewer than a third (29%) of Americans give her good grades for her efforts. Nearly half (45%) give her a D or F.
Six in every ten (61%) of Democrats give her favorable grades; only 10% give her failing grades. Meanwhile, 80% of Republicans give failing grades, and only 9% give her good grades. Nearly half (46%) of independents don’t see her in a favorable light, compared to 20% who give her good grades.
Fond du Lac Incident
An illegal migrant from Nicaragua who entered the U.S. in October 2021 is now charged with sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl in Fond du Lac County in Wisconsin. Nearly half of Americans think 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 the Congress.
Surprisingly, even a third of Democrats blame Harris and Biden. Independents blame all the three (Biden, Harris, and Congress) equally.
About The Survey
TechnoMetrica conducted the TIPP online survey for the National Sheriffs' Association from August 28 to August 30. The nationwide study had a sample of 1,582 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 +/- 2.6 percentage points, meaning the study is accurate to within ± 2.6 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.
