New Study: The Myth of Immigrant Criminality

February 28, 2007

It's a widely held belief, reinforced by those who advocate for stricter immigration controls, that increased immigration brings with it increased crime. It's by no means a new notion. All immigrant groups at one time or another have faced accusations of inherent criminality.

Whether it's Italian mafiosos or Chinese opium dens, stereotypes and myths about immigrant criminality have permeated American culture and political discourse since the nation's inception.So it is not surprising that many Americans today believe that the newest wave of immigrants bring with them a disrespect for the law and a proclivity for criminal behavior. A new study, released last Monday, looked at immigrant criminality and found that not only are new immigrants less likely than their native-born counterparts to commit crimes or be incarcerated in state or federal prisons, they actually contributed to a decrease in the overall crime rate nationally.

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Click here for the actual report;
The Myth of Immigrant Criminality and the Paradox of Assimilation: Incarceration Rates among Native and Foreign-Born Men