Democrats and Socialists strongly condemn allowing local police to assist federal immigration enforcement efforts – but, three-fourths of likely voters are for it, results of a new national survey reveal.
Democrat-run states, cities and counties across the U.S. have enacted “sanctuary” policies that restrict or completely prohibit local police from cooperating with federal civil immigration authorities, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Nonetheless, 73% of U.S. likely voters surveyed by Rasmussen said that it’s important “for local police to assist federal immigration officials in apprehending illegal immigrants who have committed violent crimes.” Nearly half (48%) called it “very important” for local police to assist, while 25% deemed it “somewhat important.” Five percent said they were “not sure,” while 22% said it is not important.
Even 58% of Democrat voters said it is important for local police to help federal immigration officials, including 31% who called it very important. Meanwhile, 87% of Republican voters and 73% of “other” voters said it’s important. What’s more, 67% of Republicans and 45% went so far as to deem local cooperation very important.
The percent of voters who think it’s very important for local police to assist federal authorities rises with age, from 34% of those 18-29 to 56% of voters 65 and older.
Democrat opposition to federal immigration law enforcement intensified last week, when an ICE officer shot and wounded a violent, criminal illegal alien named Oscar Belgal, who was reportedly attempting to ram officers and their vehicles with his car in New York City.
Both the city, run by Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and the state, led by Democrat New York Governor Kathy Hochul, are sanctuaries for illegal aliens. Even before the ICE shooting, both politicians had publicly demonized federal immigration officials. In its aftermath, their rhetoric has become even more vicious, branding federal agents as rogue actors threatening and terrorizing citizens.
Back on May 28, Gov. Hochul announced a sweeping set of laws designed to thwart and obstruct federal immigration law enforcement efforts, including one that specifically prohibits assistance and support by state and local police, as well as local governments.
Other prominent Democrats – such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) – are also vilifying federal immigration officers, claiming they’re threats to public safety.
In response, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has published and promoted facts to debunk false accusations and fears.
“We enforce these laws with no help from Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul,” DHS said in a social media post providing analysis beginning with Pres. Trump’s 2025 inauguration:
“Since January 20, 2025, to October 8, 2026, New York has failed to honor 16,070 ICE detainers. There are 52,503 total criminal charges and convictions associated with the detainers that were not honored.”
DHS has also issued a press release debunking “numerous lies about the incident and ICE operations in the city” made by Democratic Socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other “New York sanctuary politicians.”
One discredited claim specifically addresses the issue of public safety:
“CLAIM: ICE undermines public safety. It makes us less safe.
FACT: 7 out of the 10 safest cities in the U.S. cooperate with ICE. Every day, the men and women of ICE are keeping our communities safe by arresting terrorists, murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and drug traffickers. Since President Trump’s second term began, ICE has arrested nearly 12,000 gang members and over 2,236 known or suspected terrorists. ICE saves American lives every day by enforcing our nation’s laws.”
Another press release, “DHS Highlights Victims of Illegal Alien Crime in Sanctuary New York,” presents examples of “Americans have been murdered, shot, stabbed, and raped by illegal aliens allowed to roam free by Kathy Hochul’s sanctuary New York.”
The national survey of U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on September 24 and 27-28, 2026 by Rasmussen Reports.
