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Immigration

woman holding American flag at naturalization ceremony

Overview

Human migration has been constant throughout history, driven by factors like political instability, war, and environmental change. In the U.S., immigration has continued to cause heated debate deeply polarizing the two political parties. These debates have raised questions about how immigration impacts the economy, crime, and the social safety net, as well as the effectiveness and fairness of enforcement policies.

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Research Roundup

People Born in the U.S. Are More Likely to Commit Crimes Than Immigrants

A study by IPR economist Elisa Jácome shows that before 1960, immigrants’ incarceration rates were nearly identical to White U.S.-born men, but since 1960, immigrants as a group are less likely to be incarcerated. Today, immigrants are 30% less likely to be imprisoned.

Immigrant Enforcement Can Impact Trust in Law Enforcement

IPR economist Elisa Jácome studies the impact of the U.S. Secure Communities program, which increased information sharing between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, on public safety. She finds that Hispanic individuals were 30% less likely to report crimes to the police after Secure Communities was implemented and Hispanic residents were also significantly more likely to be victims of crimes. 

Children of Immigrants Have Higher Rates of Economic Mobility Than Their U.S.-Born Peers

Research looking at immigrants’ intergenerational mobility by IPR economist Elisa Jácome reveals that children of poor immigrants today earn more than the children of poor U.S.-born parents. The immigrants’ upward movement today follows the same pattern as children of poor immigrants who arrived in the late 1800s and early 1900s. 

How Have U.S. Politicians Talked About Immigrants Across History?

In a study looking at political speeches about immigrants from 1880 to 2020, IPR computational linguist Rob Voigt finds that since World War II, speeches by presidents and members of Congress are more likely to be positive than in the past. However, Mexican immigrants today, like the Chinese in the 19th century, are special targets and categorized by words like "crime," "labor," and "legality." 

Immigrants Are More Likely to Start Companies and Create More Jobs Than They Take

Research by strategy professor and IPR associate Benjamin Jones examines how often immigrants started companies between 2005 and 2010, the number of jobs the firms created, and then compared them to firms created by U.S.-born entrepreneurs. The results indicate that immigrants are far more likely to start companies and that they create more jobs than they take.