MYTH #2: Immigrants cause a rise in CRIME.

Makes sense doesn't it? I know as a foreigner (a legal immigrant) here, I was neurotic about the danger of doing anything wrong, or even appearing to do wrong, because I knew even a tiny mistake could destroy my whole life, and that of my children.

Well not really... but Illegal Immigrants increases ''CRIME'.

Safer cities... the effect peaceful, educated and progressive people and countries, not a maddened people.

Hmmm, lets ask the Mexican Mafia or the Mexican gang bangers about all that.

Let's ask the ones who drink and drive, get into accidents and kill people their opinion.

Perhaps an illegal alien will put in his two cents from prison.

Granted they're not all here illegally, but a lot of them are. And they shouldn't even be here in the first place.

Funny statistically you'd think more people = more crime.

But, yeah legal immigration isn't somethng people are trying to stop. Illegal immigration is by very definition illegal and therefore a crime under current law. So essentially every illegal immigrant is committing a crime.

Since it's a crime to come here illegally, that's saying sure, it increases crime right off the bat. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. If you meant "legal immigration" that's a different story.

Safe cities? An oxymoron.

http://www.city-journal.org/html/14_1_the_illegal_alien.html

Says it all,...........

The IllEGAL IMMIGRANTS have already commited anywhere from 12 to 20 million crimes.

Hey Rico.....Are you being paid to spread propaganda and sway public opinion here, or are you a Gather employee with a ficticious membership just trying to stirr the pot so Gather can get more hits ?

I didn't even notice that he didn't put ILLEGAL in the title this time. I took it for granted, since he's been posting these articles for a while now about illegal immigrants. I almost didn't post in this one because I'm bored with these discussions about whether they should or shouldn't be here.

Let them fix what's wrong with their own country, not bring their problems to ours. They're coming in too fast. We set a certain number of spaces for immigrants to come here. I'm sorry they have it bad, but they need to wait their turn.

Most Americans are in favor of legal immigration. It's illegal immigration that causes the uproar. For the record, I would imagine that each individual that enters the country "illegally" - causes an increase in crime, kind of by default --- don't you think?

MS13 has anywhere from from 20,000 to 50,000 members (estimates vary but 2/3 of its membership are illegal immigrants). These guys are not here for "work that Americans won't do", (there are plenty of Americans that will sell drugs. LOL.) So, yes, illegal or legal immigration will cause more crime, just by their presence here based on percentages.

Rico you're pretty slick.

Rico,
Though I do believe many imigrants do anything they can to avoid being noticed, especially by the police, I don't think that the people answering any type of questionare about crime are the ones commiting it and that scues the results. I think imigrants are just like everyone else. No better or worse, no more or less likely to commit crimes. It all depends on the individual. Let's all stop putting everyone into groups and look at them as individuals.

I look at it this way, if an illegal is busted for a crime (other than just being here and working) such as drugs, or gang activity, they get deported and their fingerprints put on a database and that they not be allowed re-entry period. If they are good workers who take care of themselves and their families under the rest of the laws then cut them a damn break, offer amnesty and let them become citizens.

Hey Rico,
Did Mr. Harvard count the 12 to 20 million crimes when they crossed the border? How about the thousands of Social Security Fraud cases? How about the Two drunks that didn't even have licences or any paperwork that hit cars on my street (Drunk). How about the Blue Gang that lives across the street from me and waive flags at me on Memorial day other than the American Flag. How about the town having more Red White and Green than Red White and Blue? Rico have you served any time in the Armed Forces protecting the rights you so cheaply use to benefit Illegal Aliens? Ive noticed that you spend time responding to those who share your views but you dont spend much time debating with those opposed to your opinion. This sounds like a familiar problem ringing out all over the USA. Who cares what the Majority wants we will take what we want. To bad these Criminals dont have the intestinal fortitude to do this in there own countries. Times get tough the tough starts running to America and wants to dictate the terms. Little Presumptuous dont you think?

Jon: Sampson's work wasn't just a survey, but a complete research project, including statistics on crime, etc.

Bruce: I don't believe you did see all my comments -- I respond to both kinds.

Timothy: No, I'm not hired by Gather in any way, but thank you.

All: look at the Sampson quote... we're focusing on "violent crime" here... The comment on "safer cities" have to do with violence. Undocumented immigrants are a minority of all immigrants, and when considering ALL immigrants (including undocumented ones), the impact is a net positive on the safety scale. Historically, immigrants, documented or not, have been responsible for revitalizing troubled areas of many cities, and this is still the case today, 2007.

Rico
Ive been following fairly close and I dont see it. The other thing is when you only take a look at violent crime its kind of looking at the problem with rose colored glasses. Do you even begin to understand the strain Illegal Imigration has put on our court system? How about the Jails that are overcrouded that Tax Paying American Citizens are paying to house and feed these people. If you want to represent a problem do it from all sides and dont paint a pretty picture on the wall to cover the real issues. Just by shear numbers 20Million is what about 1/8th of the population of America? Wouldn't that tell you by odds that of coarse the numbers are going to be less for Violent crimes. How about looking into the future when our Population doubles and the number even out a bit. Do you want to fix a problem before it becomes a problem or wait until it unfixable?

Rico I believe your Myths are Myths about Illegal Imgration. Your picking your post to look only at the good and leaving all the truth behind. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by this its happening in our own Government.

Legal immigration should be encouraged at every opportunity. I'm not sure, but I'm assuming you're using the term undocumented because it sounds a lot less threatening than illegal.

For security reasons, we should not have undocumented immigrants.

Undocumented immigrants should 1) Be asked to return to their country of origin within a certain time period, 2) Be encouraged to apply for legal status through the appropriate channels from their country of origin (truly, go back to the end of the line), 3) Assured that although their current infraction will not be held against them when they apply for citizenship - any future attempt to return to their undocumented status will eliminate any future opportunity for a work visa, student visa, or green card.

Vicki,
When you run for President I will Vote for you.

Rico,
That edit button comes in handy doesn't it?

Bruce: I haven't edited any of my comments -- I don't know that you can actually do that. Do you do that? If you even try to edit a comment, doesn't that comment go to the end of the line? Hmmm! Isn't that against Gather rules? It seems to be against common sense, Bruce, please don't do it.

Bruce,
Thanks, but I wouldn't stand a chance. LOL.

Rico, "undocumented" immigrants isn't the proper term, illegal immigrants fits. Undocumented seems like an attempt to group them with the immigrants who have come here properly. What's next, we call all the drug dealers "unlicensed pharmacists".

of course not legal immigrants do not commit crimes he is farsing he is not talking about illegals at all

he is talking about the legal citizens who came over LEGALLY

this fellow is retarded he is playing

Bait and Switch

Rico,
You seem a little sensative at my suggestion that your playing with the Edit Button. First of all you cant edit a comment but you can edit your initial blurb before the comments. Playing the I didn't know that doesn't fit you. What does fit you is taint the truth.
NONEOF Y, You hit the nail right on the head. (BAIT AND SWITCH)

Rico,
Where is your next Myth??? I cant wait!!!!

Bruce: I've never been "sensative" in my entire life.

yup, immigrants tend to be a stabilizing force for communities. Makes sense, no?

Rico,
Maybe its the little tea cup your holding. LOL

It's obvious that almost nobody is buying Rico's crap.

In a grand attempt to fool the public the Senate Bill 1348 is being brought back to the floor next week as Senate Bill 1639. Dont let the powers at be fool you with a number play. Please call your Senators and talk with them or there staff.

Whoa...my pet peeve is the use of statistics relating to "immigrants" to apply to illegal aliens. There is a clear definition of "immigrant" in Federal Law and no one who enters the U.S. without authorization can call himself an immigrant. He is an alien with unlawful presence within our borders. If he works, he is a criminal who has stolen someone's identity and/or defrauded his employer with false documents.

Back to immigrants and their low crime rate...it's true and for a very good reason: Before anyone is allowed to immigrate they must pass background checks done in their own country...then before they can become citizens the must pass new background checks. Those with criminal records are excluded so it makes sense that foreign born LEGAL IMMIGRANTS are less likely to commit crimes of any type.
Illegal Aliens commit far more crimes than native born because they demonstrate a disregard for law by their very presence and often are fugitives from justice in their own countries.
So let's not offend the legal immigrants by letting their good reputations be stolen by propagandists and given to those lawbreakers who call themselves immigrants but who are not.

The legal immigrants--dispropensity. However, the *illegals* are far, far *more* likely to commit crimes of all kinds, including violent ones.

Dorine: I have heard police officers talk about how law abiding undocumented immigrants are -- they don't speed, try to stay clean as much as possible, logically to avoid any contact with the law. The one "law" they broke is a sick and outdated law that doesn't work and doesn't reflect reality -- this is why we need to fix it, and too bad that some form of a fix didn't pass this time. You can take a case or two to try to make your point, but it ends up being that: anecdotal.

Bottom line: this study is about ALL immigrants, and undocumented immigrants live alongside documented immigrants. So, all are in the "same bag" as far as this study goes. The "dispropensity to violence" finding does include undocumented immigrants.

Shelia D. certainly put a nail dead center in the reason that immigrants are unlikely criminals. And her reason applies even more extensively to illegal immigrants.
But Rico, just because it is a FACT that immigrants are more law abiding that citizens, it does not keep the indoctrinators from sort of lying. After all isn't doing something illegal a crime? If you use that strict definition, EVERY illegal immigrant has committed a crime.

Fugitives are frequently super law abiding. All illegal immigrants are fugitives.