Poll: 80 Percent of Americans Oppose Sanctuary Cities

New York City has several sanctuary policies that prohibit, with few caveats, local law enforcement from handing criminals over to immigration authorities unless they commit any of 170 crimes the city has listed. Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times

Cities with sanctuary policies that shield illegal immigrants, especially those who commit crimes, are facing pressure under the new administration.

A new poll shows the public also supports tougher enforcement in sanctuary cities.

The vast majority (80 percent) of people surveyed said cities that arrest illegal immigrants for crimes should be required to turn them over to immigration authorities. The Harvard–Harris Poll was exclusively published by The Hill.

Currently, jurisdictions that have sanctuary policies are releasing many convicted criminals rather than handing them over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—even when ICE submits a request for transfer, called a detainer.

In a testimony for a House committee last year, then-ICE Director Sarah Saldaña said 36,007 illegal alien criminals had been released back into communities in fiscal 2013.

Created by Center for Immigration Studies using Immigration and Customs Enforcement Data/Google Maps