Voters in 11 battleground states key to controlling the Senate in 2018 and presidency in 2020 overwhelming support the administration's effort to end so-called "sanctuary" policies for illegal immigrant criminals in over 300 cities, according to a new poll on the explosive issue.

Even more significantly, over 83 percent of Hispanics want the sanctuaries to obey federal demands to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and turn over illegals sought for deportation, according to the survey from the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

The poll, conducted by Zogby Analytics and provided exclusively to Secrets, provide political ammunition for sanctuary city foes and pose a potential reelection threat to key lawmakers who oppose the administration's policies.

According to FAIR, over 77 percent of voters in the 11 states want the Senate to pass the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, already OK'd in the House.

Texas "sanctuary cities" law set to go into effect Friday unless court blocks it https://t.co/bTaYXPv0t5 via @TexasTribune @nachoaguilar — FAIR (@FAIRImmigration) August 31, 2017

They also support in similar numbers the right of victims of crime by illegal immigrants to sue sanctuary cities like New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco that ignore ICE demands and free criminal illegals.

"The poll shows that Americans want their state and local governments to cooperate with federal efforts to remove criminals from the United States. They demand accountability for these policies from the local governments that make them and they are also prepared to hold their federal officials accountable if they block this much needed legislation from becoming law," said Dan Stein, president of FAIR.

Lawyers for defendant in Kate Steinle case seek to show shooting accidental https://t.co/0H4TZGSfri via @SFGate @EvanSernoffsky — FAIR (@FAIRImmigration) September 1, 2017

Since President Trump's election, a handful of cities have reversed their sanctuary policies, but most like Chicago and New York have doubled down. States like Texas have sought to eliminate sanctuary policies, but have been rebuffed in courts.

The poll is the first to indicate that voters will punish lawmakers who don't back anti-sanctuary policies like the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, known as H.R. 3003.

In Kentucky, for example, voters want Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to move on the legislation. Zogby found that 76.6 percent want McConnell to support the new legislation. And if he doesn't, 66 percent would oppose his re-election.

The survey polled voters in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

"It is time for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to schedule debate and a vote on H.R. 3003," said Stein. "When it comes to putting criminal aliens back on the streets, voters demand accountability from the local officials who establish sanctuary policies and from federal lawmakers who block sensible legislation that would end these dangerous policies," Stein added.

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com