Research studies examining the link between immigration and crime have repeatedly found that Hispanic immigrants are less criminal than native born citizens. Using actual data on rates of crime in the United States, those who have drawn this evidence-based conclusion include Dr. John Hagen, former President of the American Society of Criminology, Dr. Michael Gottfredson, one of the most widely-esteemed criminologists in the world, and Dr. Ramiro Martinez, the nation’s leading criminologist of immigration.
According to Dr. Raymond Michalowski of Northern Arizona University, "Despite years of solid research evidence that immigrants, particularly Latino immigrants, are not a crime threat, some community leaders continue to promote the myth of Latino immigrant criminality, relying on falsehoods, anecdotes and half-truths to create public fear and support for agendas that do not benefit their communities."
The Sheriffs claim that the state will save money by turning immigrant school children over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. However, researcher Judith Gans from the non-partisan Udall Center for Public Policy found that immigration results in a net economic gain for the Arizona economy. In Gans’ 2008 report “Immigrants in Arizona: Fiscal and Economic Impacts” she finds that “immigrants in Arizona generated a net 2004 fiscal contribution of about $940 million toward services such as public safety, libraries, road maintenance, and other areas.”
Surprisingly, the Sheriffs reveal an over-simplistic understanding of immigrant families in Arizona. Because of backlogs in immigration application processing and other administrative procedures, families have mixed immigration status. U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, someone with a work visa and someone who is undocumented are likely to all live under the same roof as a nuclear family. Involving our school system in uprooting and dividing families would be a disaster.
We should expect more from our law enforcement leaders. We depend on law enforcement to serve and protect our communities. Effective policing depends on having the trust and confidence of the community. But if our sheriffs are promoting that schools become immigration enforcement centers, they are shooting their foot by alienating immigrant families who should be seen as part of the solution to public safety rather than a threat.
In the meantime, while Arizona leaders keep us bogged down in debating where and how to round up school children, other states are recognizing the importance of a diverse, educated and highly-skilled workforce that can attract businesses for the long-term passing. State leaders in Oregon, New Jersey, Maryland, Colorado, Rhode Island, Missouri, Connecticut and Arkansas are all discussing legislation this year to provide in-state tuition to undocumented immigrant youth who have resided in the state for at least 3 years. Other states are expanding support for English and civics classes and citizenship application centers.
Punitive approaches don’t work and are unrealistic. Our Sheriffs should know better. Arizona has a tremendous opportunity to be an innovative state that integrates immigrant families into our schools, workforce, and communities. We need leaders in Arizona that can pass the test of true leadership: breaking away from pack and promoting solutions that are bold, meaningful and benefit the state as whole.
