Cato Daily Podcast
Examining the Evidence on Immigrant Crime
Jul 3, 2024
Expert in immigration policy and crime rates, Alex Nowrasteh discusses data from Texas on immigrant crime rates. Lower criminal conviction rates for immigrants compared to native-born Americans. Analysis of trends in immigrant crime rates over time and challenges common narrative of immigrant criminality in the media.
10:40
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Quick takeaways
- Immigrants in Texas have lower crime rates than native-born Americans, with illegal immigrants 26% below in homicide convictions.
- Immigrants exhibit a selection effect driven by economic prospects, coupled with stringent background checks, leading to lower crime rates.
Deep dives
Immigrant Crime Rates in Texas vs. Native-born Americans
Immigrants, both legal and illegal, in Texas have lower crime rates compared to native-born Americans. Data from the Texas Department of Public Safety show that illegal immigrants have a criminal conviction rate 26% below that of native-born Americans for homicide, while legal immigrants have a 61% lower conviction rate. This pattern has remained consistent over the years, with the convictions for all groups dropping in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. The arrest rates also follow this trend, indicating that immigrants, driven by the potential consequences on their immigration status, are less likely to commit crimes.
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