Public Opinion on Immigration Law Enforcement, Support for the Police, and Obligation to Report Undocumented Immigrants to the Police

Abstract

Immigration and immigration enforcement are highly debated in the United States and internationally; however, few studies have examined public opinion on immigration law enforcement using a national sample. Using a panel-based national survey of U.S. citizens, this study explored whether the 2016 U.S. presidential candidate choice influenced public opinion concerning local police officers’ involvement in immigration enforcement. Findings from OLS models indicated that, compared to those who voted for Donald Trump in 2016, those who voted for Hillary Clinton were less likely to endorse using local police to aid in immigration law enforcement and to believe that the public is obligated to report undocumented immigrants to the police. Additionally, compared to those who voted for Donald Trump, those who voted for Hillary Clinton were more inclined to agree that using local police to enforce immigration laws would lower public support for the police. Policy implications are discussed.