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

This study examines how the 2016 U.S. presidential vote influenced public opinion on local police involvement in immigration law enforcement, using a nationally representative survey of U.S. citizens. Findings indicate that compared to voters for Donald Trump, those who voted for Hillary Clinton or did not vote were less likely to support local police enforcing immigration laws or to feel obligated to report undocumented immigrants to police, and more likely to believe such enforcement would reduce public support for police. The study also identifies demographic factors—such as education, age, region, race/ethnicity, and born-again Christian status—that correlate with these attitudes. These results highlight the political polarization surrounding immigration enforcement and suggest implications for police legitimacy and community relations.