Fact Check: Illegal immigrants are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime.

Fact Check: "Illegal immigrants are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime."

What We Know

The claim that illegal immigrants are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime is often cited in discussions about immigration policy. However, data from various sources indicates that this assertion lacks substantial evidence.

1. According to a report by Cato Institute, more than 93% of individuals detained by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) had never been convicted of any violent offenses, and about nine in ten had no convictions for violent or property crimes (Cato). This suggests that the majority of those detained do not have a history of violent crime.

2. The ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics reveal that a significant portion of those arrested are not violent offenders. For instance, 71% of individuals detained had no criminal record at all (ICE). This data indicates that the narrative of illegal immigrants being disproportionately involved in violent crime is not supported by the statistics.

3. A recent analysis highlighted that only about 8% of those detained by ICE had been convicted of violent crimes (CBS News). This further reinforces the notion that the majority of undocumented immigrants are not violent offenders.

4. The Deportation Data Project shows that the majority of arrests made by ICE involve individuals without any violent crime convictions. In fact, most convictions among those detained fell into categories such as immigration violations, traffic offenses, or non-violent vice crimes (Working Immigrants).

Analysis

The evidence presented from various credible sources indicates that the claim of illegal immigrants being responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime is misleading.

• The data from Cato Institute, which analyzed ICE's arrest records, shows that a staggering 93% of individuals booked into ICE custody had no violent crime convictions. This statistic is crucial as it directly contradicts the claim that illegal immigrants contribute significantly to violent crime (Cato).

• Furthermore, the ICE statistics confirm that a large percentage of those detained do not have any criminal record, which challenges the narrative that illegal immigrants are inherently more dangerous than the general population (ICE).

• The CBS News analysis corroborates these findings, showing that only a small fraction of detained individuals were convicted of violent crimes, thus undermining the claim that illegal immigrants are disproportionately involved in such offenses (CBS News).

• The reliability of these sources is strong, as they are based on official government data and reputable research organizations. The Cato Institute, while sometimes viewed as having a libertarian bias, provides data-driven analysis that is widely cited in academic and policy discussions.

Conclusion

The claim that illegal immigrants are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime is False. The available data consistently shows that the vast majority of undocumented immigrants do not have violent crime convictions, and many have no criminal record at all. This undermines the assertion that illegal immigrants are a significant source of violent crime in the United States.

Sources

1. Criminal Alien Statistics | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
2. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics
3. 65 Percent of People Taken by ICE Had No Convictions, 93 ...
4. Trends in arrests, detention and deportation January - June ...
5. Federal data reveals the truth about immigrant detention
6. ICE detentions of non-criminal immigrants spike; about 8% ...
7. Immigrants and Crime: What the Numbers Say – And What They Don’t