Fact Check: Illegal immigration is one of the highest criminal offences

Fact Check: "Illegal immigration is one of the highest criminal offences"

What We Know

The claim that "illegal immigration is one of the highest criminal offences" can be examined through various statistics and reports regarding immigration-related crimes in the United States. According to the U.S. Attorneys' Prosecuting Immigration Crimes Report (PICR), there has been a significant number of prosecutions related to immigration offenses, particularly under statutes such as 8 USC §1324 (transportation of illegal aliens) and 8 USC §1325 (illegal entry). For instance, in recent fiscal years, thousands of cases have been filed, indicating a robust enforcement of immigration laws.

Furthermore, data from Criminal Alien Statistics shows that a substantial number of individuals arrested for immigration violations have prior criminal convictions. In fiscal year 2024, for example, a considerable portion of arrests involved individuals with serious criminal backgrounds, including violent crimes and drug offenses.

However, it is essential to note that illegal immigration itself is classified as a misdemeanor under U.S. law, which is less severe than many other criminal offenses, such as felonies involving violent crime or drug trafficking. The ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics indicate that while immigration-related arrests are high, the nature of these offenses varies significantly in severity.

Analysis

The assertion that illegal immigration ranks among the highest criminal offenses is misleading when considering the legal definitions and classifications of crimes. While immigration offenses are prosecuted vigorously, they are generally categorized as less severe compared to other criminal activities. For example, illegal entry (8 USC §1325) is a misdemeanor, whereas many violent crimes are felonies, carrying heavier penalties and societal implications.

Reports such as the one from Northeastern University suggest that undocumented immigrants actually have lower crime rates than native-born citizens, challenging the narrative that illegal immigration is a significant contributor to crime. This perspective is supported by various studies indicating that the majority of undocumented immigrants do not engage in criminal activities.

Moreover, the 100 Days of Making America Safe Again report highlights that while there are significant numbers of arrests related to immigration violations, many of these individuals may not pose a threat to public safety. The focus on deporting individuals with criminal records does not necessarily correlate with the overall crime rate attributed to illegal immigration.

In summary, while illegal immigration is treated seriously under U.S. law and results in numerous prosecutions, it is not classified among the highest criminal offenses when considering the broader context of crime and its severity.

Conclusion

Verdict: Partially True
The claim that "illegal immigration is one of the highest criminal offences" is partially true in that illegal immigration is indeed a prosecutable offense with significant enforcement efforts. However, it is misleading because illegal immigration is classified as a misdemeanor, which is less severe than many other criminal offenses. Additionally, the overall impact of illegal immigration on crime rates is often overstated, with evidence suggesting that undocumented immigrants have lower crime rates compared to native-born citizens.