October 17, 2024 Dear John, Research consistently shows that immigrants in the United States commit crimes at lower rates than the native-born population, despite narratives to the contrary that surface at times. Our latest explainer offers a succinct look at comprehensive studies, including a unique dataset from the state of Texas, which demonstrate that immigration is not correlated with increased crime rates—a finding that holds across immigrant groups, including unauthorized immigrants. In fact, some research suggests a greater concentration of immigrants can be associated with reduced criminal activity, particularly in communities with inclusive policies. Key findings in the explainer, “Immigrants and Crime in the United States,” include: - Immigrants have been incarcerated at rates significantly lower than U.S.-born citizens since at least 1870, with recent data indicating they are 60 percent less likely than the U.S. born to be imprisoned.
- Unauthorized immigrants commit fewer crimes than the U.S.-born population and other immigrant groups, likely influenced by their awareness of the threat of deportation.
- There is no difference in violent crime, rape, or property crime rates between “sanctuary” and non-sanctuary cities.
The explainer also details the screening and vetting processes that migrants undergo when entering the United States. We encourage you to explore the full explainer to gain a deeper understanding of these critical issues. Access it here: www.migrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/publications/mpi-explainer-immigration-crime-2024_final.pdf. Also, check out our recent explainers on immigrants and public benefits eligibility and use, noncitizens and voting, and a profile of the U.S. immigrant population. We hope these explainers prove useful. |
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| The Migration Policy Institute is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank in Washington, D.C. dedicated to analysis of the movement of people worldwide. MPI provides analysis, development and evaluation of migration and refugee policies at the local, national and international levels. For more on MPI, please visit www.migrationpolicy.org. |
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