Do Immigrants Commit More Crimes? Nope, Actually Less Than Americans Reports New Study

Immigrants who live in the US actually commit less crimes than Americans. According to Univision, a newly published report contradicts a long-held belief that immigrants, in particular Latino immigrants, commit more crimes than American-born citizens. In fact, immigrants commit fewer crimes and of less severity than secon-generation migrants or American natives of several generations. The study comes from the University of Texas in Dallas.

The new study on American immigirants is significant in the face of proposed immigration legislation. Criminologist Alex Piquero was one of the researchers on the study. "What we found was surprising," he said. "Compared to people that are second generation (children of immigrants) and natives (of several generations) in th US, those that are born overseas have a much lower tendency to live a life of delincuency and their crimes are far less severe.

Piqueros attributes cultural and familly values instilled in other countries as a key factor in the marked differencce: "We think that there is something that maintains the family culturally isolated from certain patters of conduct," said Piquero. "In the families of immigrants, there is an appreciation for the law and for the opportunity that entails being in this country. Perhaps there is a different attittude towards the law in the United States.