Crime and violence pose great threats to the development of any nation. In fact, it is the sole responsibility of the government to secure citizens from any situation that undermines their safety. The United States of America is a country that has always been on the watch out for indicators of terror and crime. Reference to the research of Wadsworth (2010) indicates that in many cases, illegal immigration has been blamed for the increased rate of crime in the US. This is an area that has attracted lots of scholarly attention. Against this backdrop, the present essay sets out to explore the relationship between illegal immigration and crime in the United States. Whereas many argue that crime rate increases in the US due to the influx of illegal immigrants, it is the contention of this research that criminal activities in America are perpetuated by many factors other than illegal immigrants.
The public perception that crime and illegal immigration have a direct correlation is an insinuation that is not supported by empirical evidence. Having conducted research investigating the nature of criminal activities in America between 1990 and 2000, Wadsworth (2010) opines that illegal immigrants have been cited by politicians as the causal agents of increased crime. However, it is important to point out that this claim is a fabrication that has been used majorly by politicians to rid the country of immigrants. In a study by Wang (2012), it is apparent that many public discourses have been characterized by the opinion that there exists a direct link between crime and illegal immigration. Wang (2012) continues to observe that scientific enquiry into the matter finds no direct relationship, and therefore, the opinion still remains a fallacy meant to scare the public from the immigrants. This is the same opinion shared by Wadsworth (2010) who argues that contemporary research on crime contradicts popularly held opinions on the relationship between crime and immigration (p. 550).
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In an attempt to persuade the nation to join in the war against illegal immigration, politicians and government officers have resorted to the half-chewed conclusion which borders on a crime. In fact, like Stacey, Carbone-L ópez, and Rosenfeld (2011) argue, debates on crime and immigration are often politically charged. Although it is undeniable that crime directly threatens national development, Stacey, Carbone-López, and Rosenfeld (2011) mention that serious scholarly attention should be devoted to the inquiry of the relationship between crime and illegal immigration. This is because present conclusions are mere speculations that bear no evidence (p. 278). This argument echoes the opinion of Wang (2012) who observes that citizens should be extra careful when addressing crime and immigration because they are at risk of making false accusations about immigrants. The danger associated with this kind of reasoning is that the government targets the wrong victims while the real criminals are left to perpetrate the criminal activities. It is, therefore, necessary to rethink the connection between crime and illegal immigration.
A critical look at the statistical information on crime in the United States between 1990 and 2017 shows some interesting trends that are worthy of scholarly attention. The following figure is a graphical summary of the trends.
Figure 1: Crime Rate in the US between 1990 and 2017 (Statistica, n.d).
From the above graph, certain inferences can be made to explain the crime rate in the US . First, it is evident that the rate of criminal activities reported for 27 years has drastically reduced. The reported violent crime per 100,000 was above 700, but this has drastically dropped to nearly 390. It is equally interesting to observe that although the USA has decreasing levels of criminal activities, it is still ranked the leading nation in terms of the number of prisoners. The ranking calls for thorough evaluation of the exact cause of such increased number of prisoners.
Earlier research on the connection between crime and immigration reveals that in many instances, racialization is to blame for misleading statistics. In research by Dick (2011), it is indicated that although immigrants may not be directly involved in criminal activities in the American nation, racialization has always given people the wrong notion. Closely connected to this argument is the fallacy that certain races are just wicked, and everything evil such as crime can only be committed by them. Dick (2014) contends that Americans have been taught the old stories which criminalize aliens. It is, however, important to observe that such beliefs “ appear illegitimate as foundations for policy” and should not be used to make conclusions on the correlation between illegal immigrants and crime (Dick, 2014, p. 51). The findings of Dick (2014) corroborate the arguments of Wang (2012) who observes that whereas it is in the public domain that illegal immigrants are responsible for increased crime rate, there is a serious lack factual evidence that can validate this point.
Understanding the exact relationship between crime and illegal immigration is quite an uphill task for a majority of people because the discussions are often overdrawn. Coupled with the fact that data is lacking, the citizens are free to engage in any speculation they deem fit for the scenario. The latest research conducted by Light and Miller (2018) is a sure confirmation that illegal immigration does not increase chances of increased crime. In this study, Light and Miller (2018) observe that murder, robbery, violent crimes and instances of assault within the last three decades have not increased with the influx of illegal immigrants. It is noteworthy to stress that many discussions on this topic are a mere exaggeration of the issue. As Light and Miller (2018) argue, the government should find real causes of crime instead of troubling citizens with unfounded claims.
Crimes such as drug smuggling and robbery have not received adequate attention because real criminals are ignored in pursuit of illegal immigrants who may be perhaps innocent. It is necessary to consider the statistical information on crime and illegal immigration. From the data retrieved from Statista (n.d.), if the crime rate has reduced from 1991 yet illegal immigrants have continued to enter the country within that period, it is evident that these immigrants are in no way connected to the crime rate. In a research conducted by Pew Research Center (2018), it is apparent that the rate of illegal immigration is relatively high yet the crime rate remains lower.
Figure 2: Illegal Immigration between 1990 and 2016 (Pew Research Centre, 2018).
The above graph has certain implications worthy of interpretation. It is evident that although the number of illegal immigrants has increased and then fallen, the United States continues to have the highest number of criminals. This poses a critical question on the identity of these criminals. The graph shows that by 2016, illegal immigration stood at approximately 10.7%. In yet another statistical analysis, Light and Miller (2018) observe that between 1990 and 2014, the number of undocumented immigrants rose from 3.3 million to around 11.3 million. Despite this increase, the crime rate has reduced yet the number of prisoners stands at high records. It is therefore clear that there is little connection between immigration and crime. In the research of Light and Miller (2018), it comes out that many of the immigrants who are considered illegal and undocumented are those who have resided in the country until their visas have expired. They are therefore real citizens. The only problem is that their travel documents have expired. This idea is echoed by Duck (2014) who mentions border security is so tight that there is limited room for illegal immigrants to enter the country in high numbers as was in the past. Against this backdrop, it is important to investigate the real causes of criminal activities such as drug trafficking, violence, robbery, and associated activities outside the context of illegal immigration.
The nexus between illegal immigration and crime in the US has become a presumptive assertion that many politicians make. The government has used some of these debates to formulate some of the most contentious policies on immigration. Thorough scrutiny of the issue shows that within the same period that the number of illegal criminals increases in the US, the crime rate has drastically reduced. In the opinion of Light and Miller (2018), rigorous empirical evidence is required to establish this matter. The study of Light and Miller (2018) concludes that illegal immigrants do not pose a criminal threat to the nation. In fact, many researchers prove that their data shows lack correlation between immigration and crime.
Many hypothetical deductions characterize the talks on illegal immigration and criminal activities. One of the most current ones is the stand taken by President Trump who conflates illegal immigration with murder. Turning to the study conducted by Green (2016), Trump hypothesis states that Mexican immigrants and other undocumented persons are the ones responsible for increased crimes. However, after thorough scrutiny, Green (2016) concludes that Trump's claim "appears to be biased toward rhetoric rather than evidence" (p. 508). This claim is the departure point in studies reevaluating what has existed in public discourses for a long time. Green (2016) particularly turns the attention of the reader to the fact that although Trump's hypothesis is not necessarily an old one, the nexus between immigration and crime is one caused by polarization of politics. In other words, politicians use these claims to persuade citizens to support the debate against immigrants. Although it is evident in the Trump hypothesis that illegal immigrants are labeled rapists and drug dealers, the data used to arrive at this conclusion is vaguely defined. The claim therefore just remains a claim.
In a recent poll conducted by Statesman , Henson, and Blank (2018) posit that the relationship between crime and illegal immigration is merely a fabrication that is politically motivated. In fact, Henson and Blank (2018) argue that the citizens voted for the deportation of all immigrants who irrespective of whether they had committed crimes or not. It is important to mention that the debate is a carefully calculated discourse aimed at protecting federal funds and increasing congressional representation in Texas. This argument is the one advanced by Green (2016) who says that " there is no significant association between immigration and violent crime” (p. 15). The fact that the debate on illegal immigration takes precedence over important public transactions is an unfortunate turn of events. In fact, America is placing significance on misplaced priorities in the fight against crime. At its best, this discourse simply fuels discrimination instead of devising vigilant strategies of combating crime.
Criminalization of immigration requires adequate research to establish scholarly facts. Many punitive laws imitated by the government do not address the real issue of drug trafficking and robbery. According to Ewing, Martinez, and Rumbaut (2015), illegal immigrants are less likely to commit crime than the Native Americans. In the statistical information provided by Ewing, Martinez, and Rumbaut (2015), it is evident that as immigrants increased between 1990 and 2013, the crime rate fell significantly. Additionally, as the immigrants' population increased from 7.9% to 13.1%, the crime rate data shows that crime rate reduced by about 48%. This drop was majorly realized in cases such as murder, rape, assault, and assault. Ewing, Martinez and Rumbaut’s (2015) observation that the crime rate has reduced despite the high influx of immigrants is a cause for reevaluation of the phenomenon. The findings of Ewing, Martinez, and Rumbaut (2015) are equally echoed by Wadsworth (2010) who observes that there is no particular crime that can be associated with illegal immigrants. Claiming that illegal immigrants are responsible for the crime is a sure way to fuel conflict among citizens in the country.
It is undeniable that illegal immigrants also commit a crime. However, their increase in number has no statistical significance on crime in the US. As Ewing, Martinez, and Rumbaut (2015) note, crimes such as drug trafficking, traffic violations, and violent crimes are committed by illegal immigrants at lower rates than natives. It is important to mention that for a long time the deportation documents have always misrepresented data on illegal immigrants. This has always made people feel that particular crimes increase because of the high number of immigrants. According to McLeod (2012), the use of punitive laws to target immigrant criminals is the greatest undoing of the United States because it targets the wrong group.
There are a number of strategies that can help in curbing criminal activities committed by both immigrants and natives alike. To begin with, the Criminal Investigations Department should embrace a thorough process of documentation and prosecution of the criminals in the entire country. This should be an exercise undertaken among all criminals irrespective of their nation of origin. This argument leans against the background of Light and Miller ’s (2018) opinion that data on crimes committed by immigrants are not only exaggerated but also doctored. It is important to secure the country from all kinds of threats. Therefore, the government should pass legislative measures that demand elaborate documentation of al criminal activities without fear of favor. As Wang (2012) observes, it is due to the improper documentation of criminal activities that the public is still persuaded that illegal immigrants are a threat to national security. In this regard, therefore, it is important to have reformations in the investigation and prosecution. This will be a sure way to reveal the exact perpetrators of criminal activities. In the opinion of Stacey, Carbone-López, and Rosenfeld (2011), if the government turns its attention to thorough prosecution of criminal activities, citizens will not consume misleading information on illegal immigrants.
Solutions to illegal immigration and crime cannot be comprehensive without border security. According to Walker and Leitner (2011), the border laws should be tightened in order to comprehensively prevent cases of crime in the United States. It is important to mention that although illegal immigrants may be at lower risk of committing crime than the native citizens, there is an undeniable degree of collusion that arises from illegal immigration. Investing in smart security is a mandatory procedure in curbing illegal immigration. It is evident that although immigrants may just legally enter the country, certain goods are smuggled because of security flaws. In the opinion of Green (2016), these immigrants may establish connections with native citizens hence making the number of prisoners to increase in the country. Closely connected to this is the concept of the Secure Fence Act. According to Golash ‐ Boza (2009), erection of a fence around the border is a sure way to solve illegal immigration. Directly, this is a strategy that reduces criminal activities. It is however evident that the numerous controversies surrounding the matter have created complexities in the implementation. As a result, a number of illegal immigrants find their way into the country and they perpetrate various crimes either individually or in collaboration with the citizens.
There is a need to initiate evidence-based strategies such as hotspot policing. In an investigation on the impact of hotspot policing on criminal activities, Braga, Papachristos, and Hureau (2014) observe that criminal activities are committed by both natives and aliens. Therefore, the best way to address these issues is through hotspot policing. This is a deterrent measure that scares criminals and disorients them from their planned crime. Braga, Papachristos, and Hureau (2014) argue that police enforcement blended with proper documentation can seriously reduce the crime rate in hotspots. The police enforce stricter measures when they limit their operations to particular hotspots. This strategy should be implemented in order to reduce the criminal activities committed by illegal immigrants and native citizens.
In conclusion, this essay has investigated whether there is a relationship between illegal immigration and an increased crime rate. From the statistical information used in this research, it is evident that the influx of illegal immigrants does not in any way increase criminal activities. In fact, illegal immigrants are at lower risk of committing crimes in America. Researchers have argued that there is a lack of correlation between increased crime and immigration. Many perceptions about this topic have been shaped by political discourses aimed at persuading citizens to vote for deportation of aliens. It is, therefore, the conclusion of this paper that illegal immigration does not increase crime in the United States of America. Therefore, the government should come up with other ways of combating crime. Some of these ways border on policy evaluation and tightening border security.
References
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