Immigration and Crime Nexus

If media accounts are to be believed, immigration to the United States is a primary cause of increased crime rates. Review of recent anti-crime policies targeting immigrants would lead one to the same conclusion. Yet, most empirical research suggests precisely the opposite conclusion: many immigrant groups consistently demonstrate significantly lower crime rates than that of native populations. Moreover, despite early sociological research focusing on the relationship between immigration and crime, relatively little attention has been given to a range of critical theoretical and methodological issues bearing on this relationship. Taking these observations as a point of departure, several critical theoretical and methodological issues are outlined to develop an analytical framework for more systematically guiding and assessing research on the immigration-crime nexus. It is concluded that such a framework is needed for developing improved theories and facts, as well as more efficient and effective policies.