One of the many incorrect statements and/or beliefs regarding immigrants, fed by some in this election period, is that Americans are somehow endangered by immigrants who come to this country with the intention of committing crimes.
The numbers, however, tell a much different story. For example,the fact is that immigrants have lower incarceration rates in the U.S. than native-born American citizens.
A recent report by the American Immigration Council states that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes. The report also notes that the percentage of foreign-born men in the United States who are incarcerated (1.6%) is less than the percentage of U.S.-born men who are imprisoned (3.3%). And the reason they are behind bars is often tied to immigration offenses.
The notion of rapists and other criminals streaming unchecked across our southern borders is simply not true and is no more than an attempt to prey on the fears and stereotypes that have historically been associated with the influx of people from different countries and cultures.
Apart from the basic fact that the vast majority of immigrants are law-abiding, they are also aware that any criminal involvement could result in their deportation. While some will undoubtedly engage in criminal activity, the fact is that the overwhelming majority will not.