This brief examines various dimensions of the immigration-crime relationship in the United States. It evaluates a range of theories and arguments asserting an immigration-crime link, reviews studies examining its nature and predictors, and considers the impacts of immigration policy. Synthesizing a diverse body of scholarship across many disciplinary fields, this brief is a comprehensive resource for researchers engaged in questions of linkages between crime and immigration, citizenship, and race/ethnicity, and for those seeking to separate fact from fiction on an issue of great scientific and social importance.
Author(s): Charis E. Kubrin, Graham C. Ousey
Series: SpringerBriefs in Criminology
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 100
City: Cham
Acknowledgments
Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
Stereotypes, Fears, and Moral Panics
Implications
The Call for Research
Structure and Organization
References
Chapter 2: Theoretical Perspectives on Immigration and Crime
Macro-Level Theories of an Immigration–Crime Relationship
Demographic Theories
Economic Deprivation and Strain Theories
Immigrant Economic Revitalization Theory
Ethnic and Immigrant Enclaves Theory
Cultural Theories
Control Theories
Micro-Level Theories of an Immigration–Crime Relationship
Social Bonds Theory
Self-Control Theory
Peer Influence Theory
General Strain Theory
Conclusion
References
Chapter 3: From Theory to Empirics: Data Requirements for Studying Immigration and Crime
Units of Analysis, Data, and Measures in Macro-level Research
Units of Analysis
Measuring Immigration
Measuring Crime
Data and Measures in Micro-level Studies
Measuring Immigration
Measuring Crime
Conclusion
References
Chapter 4: Immigration and Crime: What We Know and What Remains Unknown
The Immigration–Crime Relationship Across Places
Immigration Does Not Increase Crime
Do Dimensions of Immigration Have Different Relationships with Crime?
Does the Immigration–Crime Relationship Vary by Size of Place?
Does the Immigration–Crime Relationship Depend on Crime Type?
Is the Immigration–Crime Relationship Different in Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Research?
How Does the Broader Context Affect the Immigration–Crime Relationship?
Immigrant Status, Offending and Victimization: What We Know from Micro-Level Research
Generational Status
Critical Questions, Unresolved Issues, and New Directions for Immigration-Crime Research
Accounting for Immigrant/Immigration Diversity
The Importance of Broader Context
Theory Testing
References
Chapter 5: Undocumented Immigration
Context
Theoretical Perspectives Related to Legal Status
A Developing Body of Empirical Research
Moving Forward Amidst Data Challenges
References
Chapter 6: Harsh, Restrictive, and Exclusionary: How Do Immigration Policies and Practices Matter?
Harsh, Restrictive, and Exclusionary
Broader Policy Context
Case Study—Devolution of Immigration Enforcement
Criticism
The Fight Against Devolution
Policy Implications
References
Chapter 7: Conclusion
Index
