Immigration and crime in North Carolina: beyond the rhetoric

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Last Modified
  • February 28, 2019
Creator
  • Haddix, Lindsay
    • Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of City and Regional Planning
Abstract
  • This paper uses U.S. Census data and Uniform Crime Reports to track changes in total, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic population growth rates and crime index trends for North Carolina counties between 1997 and 2006. Five counties in North Carolina have signed Memorandums of Agreement (MOA) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to implement the 287 (g) program. The 287 (g) program allows local law agencies, in this case County Sheriff's Offices, to partner with ICE in enforcing immigration laws against undocumented immigrants who are arrested for non-immigration offenses. Because it seems that the arrest rates of undocumented immigrants were not methodically tracked in any of the five counties before the implementation of the program, the decision to sign a MOA was not based upon empirical evidence to support the appropriateness of the program. Instead, the decision seems based largely on misconceptions about the relationship between immigrants and crime, as well as pressures created by continuing population growth. Among the public, policy makers, and even many academics, a common expectation is that the concentration of immigrants and the influx of foreigners drive up crime rates because of the assumed propensities of these groups to commit crimes and settle in poor, presumably disorganized communities (Sampson, 2008). However, empirical studies have shown that this is not the case. Additionally, the 287 (g) program was created to protect communities from dangerous unauthorized immigrants who pose a serious and eminent threat to safety. Yet, it is questionable whether the types of crimes being committed by undocumented immigrants warrant the resources required and negative externalities generated by 287 (g). What is the true relationship between immigrant population growth and crime rates in North Carolina and is 287 (g) the correct response?
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  • In Copyright
Advisor
  • Nguyen, Mai
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Location
  • North Carolina, North Carolina, United States
Extent
  • 83 p.
Access right
  • Open access
Date uploaded
  • December 10, 2010

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