Immigrants commit crimes less than US citizens.?

Question

February 26, 2007

The Myth of Immigrant Criminality and the Paradox of Assimilation: Incarceration Rates among Native and Foreign-Born Men: by Ruben G. Rumbaut, Ph.D. and Walter A. Ewing, Ph.D.
Because many immigrants to the United States, especially Mexicans and Central Americans, are young men who arrive with very low levels of formal education, popular stereotypes tend to associate them with higher rates of crime and
incarceration. However, data from the census and other sources show that for every ethnic group without exception, incarceration rates among young men are lowest for immigrants. This holds true especially for the Mexicans, Salvadorans, and Guatemalans who make up the bulk of the undocumented population. The problem of crime in the United States is not "caused" or even aggravated by immigrants. Among men age 18-39, the 3.5 percent incarration rate of the native-born in 2000 was 5 times higher than the 0.7 percent incarceration rate of the foreign-born.

http://www.ailf.org/ipc/special_report/sr_022107.pdf.

http://www.ailf.org/ipc/special_report/sr_022107.pdf.

This is not my opinion, it is a scientific study done based on census data. I'm just posting facts.

The study refers to legal and illegal immigrants. You can also read this story on this link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17355097/

I find it amazing the way people ignore facts that don't support their bias.

Answer 1

Thanks for posting this. But truth is, people listen to what they WANT to listen and usually it is the stereotypes. It's nice to see the real facts get laid out.

Answer 2

I don't believe that article for a second. When you live in a county that has one of the lowest crime rates in the country, you would know what I'm talking about. Ten years ago, there was maybe on average one murder every 15 years and a few burglaries a year. Immigration picked up speed and now there are murders all over the place, drug dealers everywhere, burglaries aren't uncommon, etc. To try to tell me that immigrants have nothing to do with crimes is a waste of time because I know for a fact that they're a heck of a lot more dangerous than citizens. I don't need some scientist to tell me different because I've seen all the proof I need.

Answer 3

for most illegal immigrants the only crime they commit is crossing a border,, yes u are right,,if u check the facts, there are more Americans (native born) in prison, than there are immigrants,,, but of course even with links and facts starring people in the face, they will not except the truth as the truth,,, what i found ironic is how many Americans in this forum say that Mexicans commit crimes that Americans wouldn't,, that is bull $hit,,,, if you look on the registry of sex offenders,, almost all of them are middle aged or older white and black men,, seems to me that in that case Americans are committing crimes that Mexicans don't,, I'm not saying that Mexicans don't commit that crimes and that they havent been arrested for it, because every race flaws,, all I'm saying is that i looked at over 1000 photos, and i only saw 2-3 Hispanics,,, although i am glad u posted this question, its sad that most people still wont know the truth,, it is just way to convenient for Americans to blame someone else,, its what we've always done,,,,

Answer 4

For whatever reason - your links do not work with this comment, "The file you requested was not found on this Web site."

Since I can't see your supposed supporting evidence - might I point you to the shear numbers of the people within the jail system that are indeed "Mexican, Salvadoran, and Guatemalan" along with several other south American country nationals within the American prison system.

PBS did a show about it not all that long ago. Newspapers have covered it. Strange that you somehow missed it - but found a link - that doesn't work - but that you want to suggest supports your suggestion.

Answer 5

How can you rely upon a study that purports to draw a conclusion about members of the "undocumented population" from analyzing, of all things, census data? The answer is you can't.

Not everything that calls itself a "scientific study" is reliable or factual. Personal and political agendas abound. Just cuz it's in print don't make it so!

Oh, and the links don't work... for me, anyway.

Answer 6

Why is it that so many immigrants , especially illegals are in the jails and prisons?
You can show reports of whatever, but when a people such as you stated like mexicans salvadorans guatemalans represent about 14% of the population... so why is it that they comprise 25% or more of the jail and prison population?

Answer 7

Yeah, on the sex offender registry for my county I found over 100 Black & White men and even a few White women. I found 2 Hispanics. People just like to assume things without educating themselves first. The Hispanics are just the latest politically correct scapegoats for whatever is going wrong in our nation today. I had someone answer one of my questions who blamed deforestation and the loss of many of our native plants & animals on the influx of illegals. Sorry, but I'm still laughing about that one!

Answer 8

I would believe illegals commit less crimes overall. Because if they bring attention to themselves its 'back to the boat for you'.

Answer 9

Yeah right! Our prisons are full of illegals and those are just the ones who got caught!! If every wet that crossed was caught??? Do the math!!!

Answer 10

The study said immigrant, not ILLEGAL immigrant.