Trump administration deletes study showing immigrants commit less crime.

Did the Trump administration delete a study that contradicts their narrative about undocumented immigrants being violent criminals? That’s the question raised by the recent removal of a Justice Department web page describing a study funded by the National Institute of Justice. The study, conducted in Texas between 2012 and 2018, found that undocumented immigrants were arrested at significantly lower rates than U.S. citizens for violent, drug, and property crimes. It also revealed that undocumented immigrants had the lowest offending rates overall for felony and violent felony crimes in the state. So, why would the Department of Justice remove this information from its website? The finding aligns with the general consensus among researchers that immigrants commit less crime than U.S. citizens, but the Trump administration has consistently portrayed unauthorized migrants as dangerous criminals. This raises concerns about the administration’s framing of mass deportation operations as a response to violent crime.

1. Trump administration deletes study contradicting their narrative

The Trump administration has removed a Justice Department web page that featured a study funded by the National Institute of Justice, which concluded that undocumented immigrants in Texas commit significantly fewer crimes than U.S. citizens. This deletion raises questions about the administration’s portrayal of unauthorized migrants as violent criminals.

2. Study findings

The study analyzed crime data from 2012 to 2018 and found that undocumented immigrants were arrested at half the rate of native-born citizens for violent and drug crimes, and a quarter of the rate for property crimes. It also highlighted that undocumented immigrants had the lowest overall offending rates for felony and violent felony crimes in the border state.

3. Consensus on immigrant crime rates

The study’s findings align with the general research consensus that immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, commit less crime than U.S. citizens. However, accurately studying this population is challenging due to states that do not track immigration status in arrests.

4. Trump administration’s portrayal of unauthorized migrants

Despite the research consensus, the Trump administration has consistently described unauthorized migrants as violent and dangerous criminals. This framing has been used to justify policies such as mass deportations and stricter immigration enforcement.

5. Reality vs. administration claims

A New York Times data analysis revealed that since Trump took office, half of those in immigration detention have not been convicted of any crime. Additionally, court proceedings related to the administration’s move to detain deported migrants at Guantánamo Bay revealed that nearly one-third of migrant detainees were considered “lower-threat” and likely had no serious criminal records. These discrepancies suggest that the administration’s portrayal of targeting the “worst of the worst” may not align with the reality of the situation.

The deletion of a Justice Department web page featuring a study that contradicts the Trump administration’s narrative on undocumented immigrants and crime raises concerns about the manipulation of information for political purposes. The study, funded by the National Institute of Justice, found that undocumented immigrants in Texas commit significantly fewer crimes than U.S. citizens. This finding aligns with the general consensus among researchers that immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, commit less crime than U.S. citizens. However, the Trump administration has consistently portrayed unauthorized migrants as violent and dangerous criminals, using this characterization to justify mass deportation operations. The removal of the study from the Department of Justice’s website highlights the need for unbiased research to inform policy decisions and public discourse on immigration and crime. It also underscores the importance of supporting quality journalism that can investigate and report on critical issues without paywalls, ensuring access to information for all.