Globally, immigrants often face blame for rising crime rates, a narrative primarily pushed by right-wing groups. In the U.S., this rhetoric has intensified during election seasons, where politicians aim to vilify immigrants. However, extensive research debunks these claims, showing that higher immigrant populations do not correlate with increased crime rates and that immigrants are not more likely to commit crimes than those born in the U.S.
Immigration Rises While Crime Falls
According to the American Immigration Council, the relationship between immigration and crime is clear: as immigration has increased, crime rates have declined. Between 1980 and 2022, the immigrant share of the U.S. population more than doubled, rising from 6.2% to 13.9%. During the same period, the total crime rate decreased by 60.4%, from 5,900 crimes per 100,000 people to 2,335 crimes per 100,000 people. Specifically, violent crime fell by 34.5%, while property crime dropped by 63.3%.
Recent data reinforces this trend. From 2017 to 2022, the immigrant population grew by 1.7 million, increasing its share of the total population from 13.7% to 13.8%. Concurrently, the national crime rate fell from 2,758 per 100,000 people to 2,335 per 100,000 people, representing a 15.3% decrease.
Research shows that immigrants are less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born individuals. A study by Stanford economist Ran Abramitsky indicates that this trend has persisted for 150 years. Additionally, a multi-year study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that undocumented immigrants are about half as likely to be arrested for violent and property crimes compared to U.S.-born individuals.
Research Shows Immigrants Do Not Increase Crime Rates
Multiple studies confirm that an increase in the immigrant population in the U.S. does not lead to higher crime rates. In fact, growing immigrant communities are linked to lower rates of violent and property crimes. A study published in the Journal of Ethnicity and Criminal Justice reviewed four decades of crime and immigration data across various metropolitan areas. It found that as cities became more populated with immigrants, both violent and property crime rates decreased. This finding holds true for specific groups of immigrants, including both undocumented and Latino immigrants.
Sanctuary Policies Do Not Lead to Higher Crime
Another common misconception is that sanctuary policies increase crime rates. While these policies can vary, they generally limit local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Critics argue that such policies protect criminals and jeopardize public safety. However, evidence contradicts these claims.
Sanctuary cities in the U.S. do not have higher crime rates compared to non-sanctuary cities. A 2017 study by the Center for American Progress found that counties that do not comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests for detainers experience, on average, 35.5 fewer crimes per 10,000 people than those that do. An ICE detainer requests local law enforcement to hold a potentially deportable individual for up to 48 hours after their scheduled release.
Research published in the International Migration Review and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences supports that jurisdictions with sanctuary policies do not honor ICE detainers for immigrants with criminal records any more than those without such policies. Furthermore, sanctuary policies can help foster a sense of safety among immigrants, encouraging them to report crimes and build trust in law enforcement.
A study from Colorado State University estimated that the reduction in violent crimes linked to sanctuary policies could save county governments approximately $101 million annually. In contrast, honoring ICE detainers costs counties nearly $3.3 billion each year. Importantly, limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities helps local law enforcement cultivate relationships with immigrant communities, leading to more effective policing and enhanced safety for everyone.
Conclusion
The belief that immigrants contribute to crime and that sanctuary policies promote lawlessness is not supported by research. In fact, studies show that immigrants, especially first-generation immigrants, are less likely to engage in criminal activity compared to U.S.-born citizens. Policies that protect immigrants do not lead to increased crime rates; rather, they help create safer, more trusting communities for all residents.
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