Large-scale study finds undocumented residents linked to lower local crime rates

A team of criminologists examined 11,500 neighbourhoods in over 100 U.S. cities, linking estimates of undocumented residents to local crime statistics between 2010 and 2018. Published in a scholarly journal, the research used confidential federal data to approximate undocumented populations, excluding citizens, public-health-insured individuals, college students and spouses of citizens. Findings indicate that neighborhoods with larger undocumented shares saw lower rates of property crimes and aggravated assaults, while robberies showed a modest increase, possibly reflecting victimization of undocumented individuals.

The authors note that their neighbourhood-level approach offers a broader perspective than earlier, more limited studies. Their estimates of undocumented prevalence align closely with figures from the Department of Homeland Security.