Immigrants Have Lower Rates of Crime and Incarceration Posted Mar 09, 2007 ©MurthyDotCom A recently issued study of the Immigration Policy Center (IPC), a division of the American Immigration Law Foundation (AILF), disproved a common myth that undocumented immigrants to the United States have higher rates of crime and incarceration than their U.S.-born counterparts. The stereotype seems to be applied particularly to young and poorly educated men from Mexico and Central America. It is often assumed that, because one is violating immigration laws, there is also a willingness or intent to commit a variety of dangerous crimes. "Illegal immigrant," as a term is often misinterpreted to mean that one is a career criminal. The study, which was limited to men, proves otherwise. ©MurthyDotCom Lower Crime and Incarceration Rates ©MurthyDotCom According to the AILF / IPC report, while the number of undocumented immigrants has doubled to about 12 million in the last thirteen years, the violent crime and property crime rates have significantly declined. In addition, the incarceration rate of the U.S.-born population was five times higher than the incarceration rate of the foreign-born in 2000. The report also provides comparative data on crime and incarceration rates for specific immigrant groups based on their nationalities, lengths of residence in the United States, and their levels of assimilation into U.S. society. ©MurthyDotCom Assimilation Increases Crime Rates ©MurthyDotCom The study reaches several conclusions based on statistical information. Strikingly enough, higher crime rates are associated with higher levels of assimilation (which involves higher English proficiency levels, better education, and acquisition of job skills). From a historical perspective, every period of increased immigration has been accompanied by perceptions of threat and pervasive stereotypes of newcomers as being prone to poverty and crime. This, in turn, “provides the underpinnings for public policies and practices.” In addition, television programming and movies propagate the perceived stereotypes. The misconception that immigrants are responsible for current crime rates is deeply routed in American society. The AILF/IPC Report provides statistical evidence, which overturns these misconceptions. ©MurthyDotCom Conclusion ©MurthyDotCom People often react to issues regarding immigration based upon stereotypes. In this time of intense debate about immigration law and policy, which impacts both those who have come to the U.S. legally and those who have not, it is important to have facts, and not base policy on assumptions. One should avoid the violation of any laws - immigration or otherwise. At the Murthy Law Firm, our work involves assisting individuals, as well as businesses, universities and other employers, within the legal immigration framework. We find, however, that the immigration debate often fails to recognize some fundamental issues about not just the benefit, but the critical nature of the contributions of immigrants. The numbers and types of individuals who are allowed to immigrate legally vary based upon changing laws and policies. It is important, when considering these policies, to have an accurate picture of the reality of the situation. Copyright © 2006, MURTHY LAW FIRM. All Rights Reserved
	Disclaimer : The information provided at this site is of a general nature and may not apply to any particular set of facts or under all circumstances. It should not be construed as legal advice and does not constitute an engagement of the Law Office of Sheela Murthy or establish an attorney-client relationship. Copyright : Documents from this site may be printed for personal use as long as the copyright notices are included on the print-outs and the documents are not modified or altered.