Americans Still Think Immigration Is Related to Crime
The myth of crime and immigration
The US is the destination for thousands of immigrants who annually travel to the country with the intention of building a promising future for their families and contributing to socioeconomic development through job opportunities.
However, not all American citizens agree with immigration, nor do they think it could be beneficial to the country. In fact, there is a growing misconception that links immigration to crime.
For instance, a recent poll conducted by Gallup, a data analytics firm, shows that 42% of Americans associate immigration with any kind of crime.
However, multiple studies have shown that American citizens are more likely to be related to a crime than immigrant communities residing in the US.
In fact, on August 17, 2020, a renowned professor from the University of California participated in a podcast called “Why Do Americans Think More Immigration Means More Crime?“
The professor assures that the lack of truthful information from reliable sources, specialized studies and polls that show real figures is the main reason why the local population has a wrong idea about immigration.
The government’s contribution to this misconception
It is well known that the current administration of the US, headed by President Donald Trump, has the ideal of eradicating illegal immigration and reducing legal immigration.
In this way, the Trump administration aims to protect the jobs of American citizens and the country’s economy, as well as to prevent undocumented immigrants from using local resources and benefits excessively.
However, since the beginning of his political campaign in 2015, President Trump has used strong language when referring to immigration, constantly contacting it with crime.
Let’s see some examples:
- In 2015, while President Trump was campaigning for the 2016 election, he openly stated: “They (immigrants from Mexico) bring drugs, they bring crime, they are rapists.”
- In February 2020, the White House released a presidential proclamation called “The Trump Administration’s Immigration Agenda Protects American Workers, Taxpayers, and Sovereignty.”
In this proclamation, it is stated: “President Trump is committed to stopping the flow of criminal aliens and deadly drugs across the border and into our communities.”
- On August 18, 2020, the president traveled to Arizona to launch his presidential campaign for the elections that will take place in November.
During this trip, the president declared: “We have people entering this country. Some great people, some very bad too, and I mean murderers, rapists, really bad people.”
Therefore, the fact that the main representative of the US refers to immigration with an extremely negative connotation, undoubtedly affects the perception of the local population.
On top of that, connecting immigration to crime has unleashed a gigantic social divide in recent years, fueling racism and discrimination.
What could be a possible solution?
It is important for the American population to search for reliable sources that reveal the real impact of immigration in the US.
If you want to keep up to date with immigration news, our Blog section can help.
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