Americans across the country have begun to cast their votes in the 2024 presidential election. According to a new Baldwin Wallace poll commissioned by Signal Ohio, Ideastream Public Media and WKYC, some of the top concerns Cleveland voters and voters across Ohio have identified are affordable groceries, immigration and public safety. 

I took the time to speak to voters in and around Cleveland to get their perspectives on some of these issues. How are Ohio voters feeling about the issue of immigration in the United States?

Katrina Robinson, downtown Cleveland

Party affiliation: Independent 

Najee: Can you tell us a little bit about your personal politics?

Katrina: Yeah, I’m a seasonal voter. I was raised to vote regularly, which at one point in my life I did. I started experiencing economic issues and the grind of working a lot. That shifted things for me, so I get to the polls when I can.

Najee: Do you identify with a particular political party?

Katrina: I’m an independent. I’ve voted for both Democrats and Republicans before. There are values in both parties that I believe in. I’m the kind of person that likes things to have balance.

Najee: Can you talk about how you see the current state of immigration in the United States?

Katrina: I feel like a lot of immigrants don’t come into the country on their own. Meaning, I think immigrants coming en masse is strategically planned and the system we currently have supports that. 

I feel like it’s a threat in some ways. It’s a threat when the basic needs of American citizens have not been met, but other people are able to come here and take advantage of our resources and study who we are. I have no problem with immigrants as people, I just don’t like how the system is used against Americans at times.

Najee: Do you believe that there is any type of value in immigration? 

Katrina: I do have empathy for the struggle. I understand what it takes to come from somewhere and start a new life. I’m just saying we have been here our entire lives, struggled here, fought in wars. I think there is value in immigration, but they shouldn’t be able to come here and leapfrog over us when it comes to economic opportunities.

Najee: Do you believe undocumented immigrants should be deported?

Katrina: I’m a humanitarian. My human self says of course they can stay, who am I to deny them that? However, we have a system in place. It has its issues, but there is a process. I think anyone who wants to come should be welcomed, but they have to do it legally.

Laverne Gore, Buckeye-Shaker Square

Party affiliation: Republican

(Laverne Gore was the Republican nominee for the 2021 U.S. House election to represent Ohio’s 11th congressional district.)

Najee: Can you tell us a bit about your political affiliation? 

Laverne: I like to think of myself as a moderate conservative. I’m a registered Republican and I tend to vote Republican. 

Najee: Can you talk about how you see the current state of immigration in the United States?

Laverne: I’ve lived a great deal of my life overseas and in different countries. There is no other country that allows open immigration. 

You can’t just open your borders and allow everyone to come in. There has to be some rules. There has to be consideration for the population that you’re infusing. You have to see how it works socially, culturally and economically. 

People are hurting. The economy has affected Americans across the board. Now, we’re being asked to take what we have and share it. We cannot continuously ask Americans to do without in order to take care of another population.

Najee: Do you believe that there is any type of value in immigration? 

Laverne: Of course I do. You can learn something from anybody, and I think there is value in that. I love learning about other cultures. Our children should have a worldview.

However, when you come here, you have to have something to offer the country. The reality is, America has problems right now. We have to take care of our own. Then we can look at culture and diversity, which happens with controlled immigration.

Najee: Do you believe that undocumented immigrants should be deported?

Laverne: I do. My father was an ex-felon. Every time he went to put in a job application, he had to acknowledge he was an ex-felon. He was judged by that.

We are allowing people to come into this country who are undocumented. We don’t know who they are, what they have done in the past… nothing. We are giving them more opportunities than we are giving to Americans. This is a country of second chances, but we are not affording those chances to our population.

We have one of the largest prison populations in the world, and we hold those who are incarcerated to a very strict standard. Yet we allow people to come into our country that we know absolutely nothing about.

I’m sorry, I just don’t agree with that.

Adam Green, University Heights

Party affiliation: Democrat

Najee: Do you identify with a particular political party?

Adam: I am a Democrat. I grew up and was raised as a Democrat. 

Najee: Can you talk about how you see the current state of immigration in the United States?

Adam: I don’t feel like there is an issue with immigration. When you think about how America came to be, it was a type of immigration that occurred. I think if the system was easier to navigate, more people would go through it legally than illegally. There’s obviously a reason why so many come in illegally. It seems more people are just trying to get into the country first, possibly for safety reasons, then figuring out the rest once they get here.

Najee: So as you see it, the illegal immigration that is occurring doesn’t concern you?

Adam: I think it’s the mindset we have about it. If someone is here illegally but they are working and contributing to society, why not work with them to get their green card or whatever documentation is needed for them to become an American citizen? Let’s be proactive about it.

Najee: Do you think there is any type of value in immigration?

Adam: I feel like immigration has helped in making America a place where everyone can essentially thrive in some shape or form. Immigrants work a lot of jobs that Americans don’t want, so I think that’s a good thing.

Najee: Do you believe undocumented immigrants should be deported?

Adam: No, I think we should work with them to get through the process. Now don’t get me wrong, if they are here causing harm or committing crimes, I have no problem with deporting them. 

But if they are just walking down the street minding their business and going about their day, I don’t see an issue with it.