Not all politicians agree that the surge of illegal entrants across our border threatens American citizens’ right to vote and self-govern without foreign interference. But those elected officials who don’t believe it’s an issue should note: Americans are very concerned, and want something done about it, the latest I&I/TIPP Poll shows.
The March national online I&I/TIPP Poll of 1,419 adult registered voters, taken from Feb. 28 to March 1, asked Americans: “How concerned are you about letting those who are in the U.S. illegally to participate in local and federal elections?”
The response was a landslide, with 71% saying they were either “very concerned” (50%) or “somewhat concerned” (21%) about the problem, while just 23% said they were “not very concerned” (13%) or “not at all concerned” (10%).
Most striking about the responses was their breadth, with a significant majority in virtually every demographic category saying it is a matter of concern. Groups that ordinarily differ strongly with one another find common ground here.
That includes Democrats (60% concerned to 32% not), Republicans (89% to 7%), independents (66% to 28%), whites (75% to 21%), blacks (63% to 25%), Hispanics (60% to 29%), high school graduates (69% to 22%), those with a college degree (74% to 21%) and even those with post-college training or degrees (70% to 25%).
Indeed, only one group out of the 36 demographic categories regularly followed by I&I/TIPP was below 50%: self-described “liberals,” though even there a plurality (49% to 43%) thought that illegals either voting or holding office was of concern. Self-described conservatives were highest (90% to 9%) while those calling themselves moderates were overall slightly above average (73% to 22%).
But I&I/TIPP asked an additional question: “What do you think should be done?” Those answering could choose either or both of the first two responses, so the numbers add up to more than 100%.
Respondents were given three possible responses: “Rigorously vet voter records to ensure non-citizens don’t vote,” “End programs like automatic voter registration and limit voting by mail to protect the integrity of U.S. citizens’ right to vote,” and “Not sure.”
The first possible response garnered the greatest support, at 60%. The second response regarding voter registration and limiting mail-in voting won 43% support. Among the remainder, 12% weren’t sure.
Breaking it down further, Democrats came in at 59% (“vet voter records) to 29% (“end automatic voter registration” and “limit voting by mail”), with 19%, or nearly one in five, answering “Not sure.” On the same question, Republicans broke 62% to 54%, with 6% not sure, versus independents, at 58% to 44%, with 14% not sure.
One interesting split: Age. The younger the voter, the less likely they were to favor carefully looking at voter records: For those 18-24, just 47% supported that answer, while it was 51% for those 25-44, 63% for those 45-64, and 72% for those over 65.
The reverse was also true. Young people tended to favor the “end automatic registration” and “limit voting by mail” answers, with support from 55% of those 18-24, 51% of those 25-44, 39% of those 45 to 64, and just 35% of those over 65.
The lesson to be drawn from these data? Across the board, Americans think illegal immigrants voting in our elections is a potential problem, and a solid majority would support common-sense solutions to ensure it doesn’t happen.
There are currently more than 10 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. and likely millions more given the record surge across our borders over the last three years. Counting them all is nearly impossible.
Concerns over these illegal entrants becoming a reliable voting bloc for the the left, in particular the Democratic Party, have grown in recent years, particularly as the stakes of presidential elections seem to have grown along with tight election results.
As former Border Patrol Agent Mark A. Hewitt recently wrote, “the actual number that are in the country isn’t known, ten million seems to be a farcical number, but however many are in the United States they are just a single signature away from getting amnesty. Meaning today’s illegal alien is tomorrow’s Democrat voter.”
Former President Donald Trump has warned for years about the threat of illegal immigrants voting in U.S. elections. He brought the topic up again in early January, saying “I think they really are doing it because they want to sign these people up to vote. I really do. They can’t speak a word of English for the most part, but they’re signing them up.”
Elon Musk, who has in the past identified himself as a progressive, last week posted a two-minute video from self-described “anti-communist” Western Lensman outlining with the alarming tagline, “This is actually happening!”
According to Musk’s X account, the video piled up 68 million views in just five days. It’s gone viral.
The video’s assertions are straightforward, if alarming, about the surge in illegal immigration totaling, by some estimates based on government data, 10 million just since Biden took office:
1. Flood the country with untold millions of illegals by land, sea, and air from all over the world, enough to eclipse the populations of 36 individual U.S. states so far.
2. Prioritize the needs of these millions of non-citizens over the needs of American citizens with free flights, busses, hotels, meals and phones, ensuring their loyalty to the political party that imported them.
3. Keep them in the country at all costs, even when they commit violent crimes like murder or rape. Attack the language used to describe the criminals as opposed to the criminals themselves. Slander critics as racist.
4. Ensure their privileges are made irreversible with city and state sanctuary laws that act as population magnets. Codify permanent status and ensure non-cooperation with ICE.
5. Count the non-citizens in the census that will determine congressional apportionment in the House of Representatives. As of now, they would equal 13 extra Congressional districts, a tremendous amount of electoral power.
6. Launch a massive, heavily funded lawfare campaign to change state voting laws that legalize mass mail-in ballots. No signature verification or proof of citizenship requirements, making it almost impossible to prove voter fraud.
7. Lock in the permanent voting majority with campaign promises of lavish benefits and permanent privileges, enshrining generational fealty to the Democrat Party.
8. Win elections.
9. Entrenched single-party rule has been achieved.
Tennessee U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, in particular, has warned about the potential impact that illegal immigrants have on the fairness of the U.S. presidential vote. Even if they don’t actually cast ballots illegally, the illegal inhabitants are still counted for apportionment of congressional seats and Electoral College votes.
That gives the estimated 20 “Sanctuary City” jurisdictions in major cities, mostly in Blue States, a decided advantage in political strength. Hagerty co-sponsored an amendment to the recent spending bill to keep the government from from counting illegal aliens for the Census. But it was rejected by a unanimous vote of Senate Democrats.
Whatever numbers one believes, and both sides in the debate have wildly different estimates for the amount of illegal immigration, the I&I/TIPP Poll shows the concerns over illegal immigrants voting in U.S. elections are not going away. And they appear to be a major part of the general electorate’s anger over undocumented immigration.
I&I/TIPP publishes timely, unique, and informative data each month on topics of public interest. TIPP’s reputation for polling excellence comes from being the most accurate pollster for the past five presidential elections.
Terry Jones is an editor of Issues & Insights. His four decades of journalism experience include serving as national issues editor, economics editor, and editorial page editor for Investor’s Business Daily.
TIPP Takes
Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More
1. UN Security Council Set To Vote On ‘Immediate’ Gaza Ceasefire As Famine Worsens – Al Arabiya
The UN Security Council will vote Monday on a new draft resolution on an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza after Russia and China vetoed an earlier text proposed by the United States.
The Council has been divided over the Israel-Hamas war, approving only two of eight resolutions, with both dealing mainly with humanitarian aid to the devastated Gaza Strip.
According to diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity, the new text is being put forward by non-permanent members of the Security Council, who worked with the United States over the weekend to avoid a veto.
2. Israel Bans UNRWA From Delivering Aid To Northern Gaza – UPI
The United Nations said that Israel is banning its relief agency from delivering humanitarian aid to northern Gaza, which is under the gravest threat of famine in the entire Palestinian enclave.
Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of UNRWA, announced the ban on X, stating by preventing them from fulfilling their mandate in Gaza, “the clock will tick faster towards famine & many more will die of hunger, dehydration + lack of shelter.” He said:
This is outrageous & makes it intentional to obstruct lifesaving assistance during a man-made famine. These restrictions must be lifted.
3. Macron Says Forcibly Transferring People From Gaza’s Rafah Would Be ‘War Crime’ – AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that any forced transfer of people from the southern Gaza city of Rafah would constitute “a war crime.”
He repeated his opposition to any Israeli military operation to fight Hamas in Rafah, where most of Gaza’s population has taken shelter after months of fierce fighting in the besieged territory.
In a telephone call between the two leaders on Sunday, Macron also “strongly condemned” Israel’s announcement of the seizure of 800 hectares of land in the occupied West Bank for new settlements.
4. A Turbojet And 13 Bombs: Iran’s New ‘Gaza’ Drone Can Threaten Israel – The Jerusalem Post
Iran revealed a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) called “Gaza,” claiming that it can carry up to 13 bombs and is equipped with a turbojet engine that can reportedly propel it to distances exceeding thousands of miles, putting Israel within range of the new technology.
The new UAV is an upgraded version of the Shahid 129 model. It resembles the Israeli Hermes 450 UAV but is larger.
Since the lifting of UN restrictions on Iran’s missile and UAV exports in October, Tehran has been increasingly marketing its military arsenal internationally, raising concerns among the U.S. and its allies.
5. Poland To Demand Explanation From Moscow After Missile Breaches Its Airspace During Ukraine Attack – The Guardian
Poland said it would demand an explanation from Moscow after a Russian missile briefly breached Polish airspace during a massive missile attack on Ukraine.
The Polish Armed Forces Operational Command (RSZ) said Russia had violated Poland’s airspace with a cruise missile that “entered Polish space near the town of Oserdow (Lublin Voivodeship) and stayed there for 39 seconds”.
6. Moscow Attack: Russian Court Charges Four Men With Act Of Terrorism – BBC
Russia has charged four men it says attacked a Moscow concert hall and killed at least 137 people. Three were marched bent double into a Moscow court, while the fourth was in a wheelchair. All were charged with committing an act of terrorism.
The Islamic State group, or IS, said it carried out Friday’s outrage at Crocus City Hall and posted video evidence. Russian officials have claimed, without evidence, Ukrainian involvement. Kyiv says the claim is “absurd”.
7. Emergency Power Shutdowns In Ukraine After Russian Attack – Reuters
Ukraine’s top energy provider, DTEK, said emergency power outages were introduced in Ukraine’s port of Odesa after a Russian air attack damaged one of the high-voltage facilities there.
The administration of Odesa said on Telegram that the city and the region were attacked by several waves of drones launched by Russia. Four of the air weapons were shot down over the Odesa and neighboring Mykolaiv regions.
8. South China Sea: Philippines Summons Chinese Diplomat Over ‘Unacceptable, Aggressive’ Actions – WION
The Philippines summoned the Charge d’affaires of the Chinese embassy in the country and registered a strong protest over the Chinese coast guard’s ‘aggressive actions’ in the South China Sea.
It added that China’s move to interfere with the Philippines’ routine resupply mission there last week was “unacceptable.”
The latest flare-up occurred after a vessel of the Chinese Coast Guard blasted a Filipino civilian boat with a water cannon that was en route to the Second Thomas Shoal.
9. Social Media Users Slam Chinese Job Ad Over ‘Middle Age’ Unemployment – Reuters
A job advertisement in China seeking cashiers aged 18 to 30 at a grocery store has ignited debate on social media about the perils of “middle-age unemployment.” The advertisement comes amid a scramble to fill jobs across age groups and energize a sluggish economy.
Tens of millions of college graduates are set to join the workforce in the next few years, and the nation of 1.4 billion is grappling with the threat of high youth unemployment. People over 30 also face unrelenting pressure to find jobs.
10. China Blocks Use Of Intel And AMD Chips In Government Computers – Financial Times
China has introduced new guidelines that will phase out U.S. microprocessors from Intel and AMD from government PCs and servers. Beijing is ramping up a campaign to replace foreign technology with homegrown solutions.
The stricter government procurement guidance also seeks to sideline Microsoft’s Windows operating system and foreign-made database software in favor of domestic options. It runs alongside a parallel localization drive underway in state-owned enterprises.
11. A Chinese Pastor Is Released After 7 Years In Prison, Only To Find Himself Unable To Get An ID—A.P.
The Rev. John Sanqiang Cao was arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison while coming back from a missionary trip in Myanmar.
Now, back in his hometown of Changsha in southern Hunan province, he is without any legal documentation in his country and is unable to access even the most basic services without Chinese identification.
Cao, born and raised in Changsha, dedicated his life to spreading Christianity in China, where the religion is strictly regulated. Christianity is allowed only in state-sponsored churches, where the ruling Communist Party decides how Scripture should be interpreted.
12. China Linked To UK Cyber-Attacks On Voter Data, Dowden To Say – BBC
The UK government is expected to link cyber-attacks that accessed the personal details of millions of voters to China. The attacks on the Electoral Commission took place in August 2021 but were only revealed last year.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden will address Parliament on Monday about the threat. The BBC understands other Western nations will set out similar concerns.
13. Jeremy Hunt Warns UK Must Be ‘On Our Guard’ And ‘Vigilant’ After Russia Massacre – Express
The Chancellor said the UK should “absolutely” be concerned about the threat of Islamic State following the massacre at a concert hall in Moscow.
Asked if the rest of Europe—including the UK—should be “concerned” in the wake of Friday’s events, Mr Hunt said: “Absolutely. We are very lucky in this country that we have incredibly impressive intelligence agencies that have been successful in stopping and foiling many terrorist threats over recent years.
14. Britain Risks Losing Power To Control Future Lockdowns To WHO – The Telegraph
MPs have warned that Britain risks “signing away” its powers over pandemic policy to “unelected” World Health Organisation (WHO) officials.
It is feared that a new “pandemic treaty,” which the UN agency is currently drafting, could force the UK to lock down society faster during a future global health crisis.
Critics warn that member states could be pressured to follow the agency’s instructions when responding to pandemics under the treaty, including introducing vaccine passports, border closures, and quarantine measures.
15. UK Government To Unveil $252 Million Nuclear Investment – AFP
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce £200 million ($252 million) of public investment to boost the UK’s nuclear deterrent program and civil nuclear industry, which the government says will support 40,000 expected new jobs.
The investment aims to ensure that the northern England town of Barrow-in-Furness, where Rishi Sunak will announce, “thrives as the home of UK nuclear submarine-building.”
16. North Korea Says Japan PM Requested Summit With Kim Jong Un – AFP
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister said that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had requested a summit with her brother, adding a meeting was unlikely without a policy shift by Tokyo.
Relations between the two countries are historically strained, including by a long-running kidnapping dispute and North Korea’s banned weapons programs. Still, Kishida has recently expressed a desire to improve ties, which Pyongyang has hinted is not opposed to.
17. North Korea’s Leader Kim Visits Tank Unit, Calls For Stepping Combat Readiness – Reuters
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected a tank unit and called for stepping up its combat readiness, including greater “ideological and mental power,” state media KCNA said.
The unit is the first North Korean armored division launched in 1948 and was named after its founding commander, who also led it when North Korean troops occupied Seoul during the 1950-53 Korean War.
18. Poland Scraps Homework For Youngest Pupils; Teachers Reluctant – TVP World
The Education Ministry has announced that from April, homework will no longer be compulsory for grades one to three in primary schools in Poland.
The ministry said the exception is exercises improving fine motor skills, which involve the development of hand movement skills.
The ruling came despite 82% of recently surveyed teachers stating that homework is necessary. 57% think homework should be reduced but should not be abandoned altogether.
19. Americans Share Their Must-Haves For True Comfort As Over A Fifth Struggle To Relax – New York Post
The survey of 2,000 general population Americans revealed that true comfort — feeling completely relaxed or at ease — can be hard to come by, as just 21% have experienced this within the past day.
Commissioned by Serta and conducted by OnePoll, the survey revealed that more than anything else, taking a nap (47%) was the top way respondents found true comfort.
This was followed by walking outside (41%), having a spa day (36%), and rounding out the top three ways respondents prefer to find comfort in their day.
As the temperatures drop, respondents said they also find true comfort in taking a hot bath (34%) and creating the perfect temperature at home (25%)—which was determined to be 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Republished with permission from TIPP Insights
