Houston-Area Voters on Crime and Immigration: TSU Survey Insights

Harris County Crime Perception

• 📊 A TSU survey of 1600 Harris County registered voters reveals that 54% consider crime a very serious problem in their neighborhood.
• ⚠️ An additional 34% view crime as somewhat serious, indicating a widespread concern among residents.
• 💡 Experts suggest crime perception is influenced by factors like residents' relationships with police and how crimes are prioritized by law enforcement and the DA's office.

Local Police and Federal Immigration Cooperation

• ⚖️ When asked about local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities, 39% of respondents believe it should be on a case-by-case basis.
• 🤝 Another 38% think local police should always cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
• 🚫 Conversely, 23% stated that local police should never cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Impact on Community Trust

• 😟 Leaders from a local nonprofit working with immigrant families expressed concern that associating all law enforcement with ICE could lead to fear.
• 💬 This fear might deter individuals from contacting the police if they are witnesses or victims of a crime, potentially impacting public safety.

Survey Objectives

• 🎯 The Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center at TSU conducted this survey to better understand county residents' opinions on crime, criminal justice, and public safety.
• 🔍 This report is the first of two planned publications drawing from the collected data.