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Daniel Cubias

Daniel Cubias

Posted: May 30, 2010 05:14 PM

Are Reports of the Illegal-Immigration Crime Wave Even True?

What's Your Reaction:

Embracing my god-given Second Amendment rights, I plan to buy an armful of automatic weapons and stuff the closets in my house with every manner of shotgun, pistol, and blunderbuss if I have to.

You see, crime nationwide has skyrocketed due to the influx of illegal immigrants, and...

What's that you say? Just about every statistic has shown that violent crime is actually down in America? Well, that's not what I've heard on cable news networks, but ok.

Still, it must be true that crime is way up in places where illegal immigrants congregate. Just look at our friends in Arizona, where stories of murder, rape, carjacking, kidnapping, assault, and arson are plentiful - all at the hands of the undocumented.

Senator John McCain says crossover crime from Mexico has led to "violence--the worst I have ever seen" (and that guy was in the Vietnam War!). Meanwhile, Governor Jan Brewer insists that her state has "been inundated with criminal activity."

But in truth, as I've written before, violent crime is down in Arizona. For that matter, violence is also down in such immigrant-heavy cities as Phoenix, El Paso, and New York City.

In fact, a new study implies that cities with lots of immigrants may actually be (wait for it)... safer than other places in America. How can this be?

Well, we'd have to listen to a Harvard professor who is, no doubt, a typical elitist with fancy book learnin' on his resume. But let's indulge him.

Professor Robert J. Sampson, in an interview with writer Christopher Dickey, says that "immigrants move into neighborhoods abandoned by locals and help prevent them from turning into urban wastelands. They often have tighter family structures and mutual support networks, all of which actually serve to stabilize urban environments." Sampson adds that "if you want to be safe, move to an immigrant city."

Could this be why several police chiefs from around the country recently met with Attorney General Eric Holder? The chiefs stated that Arizona's new law, if enacted elsewhere, could backfire.

"We will be unable to do our jobs," said Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck. "Laws like this will actually increase crime, not decrease crime."

The primary reason, of course, is because the new law erodes any trust between immigrant communities and the police. Also, cops would be spending less time chasing down the truly bad guys and more time booking Latinos who tried to pick up a gig outside Home Depot.

These real-world problems with the law are in addition to such minor qualms as a potential increase in racial profiling and the fact the law may violate the U.S. Constitution. But let's not quibble.

The funny thing is that there are plenty of legitimate concerns about illegal immigration that conservatives can bring up. But they have insisted on exaggerating fears of violence. Now that they've committed to this path, they don't want to hear that passing laws such as SB 1070 could actually increase crime.

But then we find out about Abel Moreno, of Charlotte, North Carolina. He called 911 when he saw a man assaulting a woman in public. The guy was arrested and faces multiple charges.

But Moreno, who is an undocumented worker, is now in line to be deported. His attorney hopes he can get Moreno a temporary visa. In the meantime, Moreno has lost his job.

I'm sure the next immigrant who witnesses a crime will be only too happy to be thrust into a similar situation by calling the cops. He'll feel a great surge of civic pride, even after the police slap the cuffs on him.

But that's not my concern. I'll just buy more guns.

 
 
 
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
spytheweb
Black Democrat
11:02 AM on 06/21/2010
"The problem is that when it comes to crime statistics, in this case the Times' perception trumps the reality of those living on the Arizona border. Tom Maguire, one of the smartest guys in the blogosphere took a quick look at the FBI crime statistics the Times cites and they don't support the Times' conclusion that immigration is having little affect on crime in Arizona.

Maguire's post should be read in its entirety, but essentially, the FBI crime stats are broken down by region and while crime has fallen 20 percent in cities from 2000 to 2008, in towns outside major metropolitan areas and rural counties crime is up 39 and 45 percent, respectively. In other words, it sure looks like crime is way up in the border regions of Arizona."
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
spytheweb
Black Democrat
12:24 AM on 06/02/2010
I would think he could have called the police without giving his name. Imagine a crime being commit by an illegal not reported by an illegal?

http://www.examiner.com/x-35821-Immigration-Reform-Examiner
12:09 PM on 06/01/2010
Mr. Cubias, unfortunately no one what to hear what you have uncovered. They rather hear "illegals take jobs from Americans", "illegas don't pay any taxes", "illegals are draining our system". Saying these things make it easier to blame someone else for our misfortune.

I live in Phoenix and when the Gov signed the bill into law and gave her reasons for it, I was like "what?". She signed the bill to cement her nominition, that's the reason why she did it. I wish someone would interview the people who came on t.v. supporting this law; a J.T. Right (friend of Mormon Pearce) and the eloquently spoken Minuteman who came all the way from
T-e-x-a-s. Very professional looking man.

Everyone should know exactly who is backing this bill.

Thank you.
10:36 AM on 06/13/2010
Illegals do take jobs, illegals don't pay taxes, illegals are draining our system. Wake up and smell the coffee they are killing this country. I don't care if Govenor Brewer singed the bill to cement her nomination or not it is a great law and every state should follow it.
12:17 AM on 06/01/2010
“To those that want to claim Arizona's actions were based on racism, fear mongering, etc. Read the report below and you will know what Congress knew about the danger to Arizona. Democrats and Republicans alike should be held accountable for the terror and the deaths.


http://www.house.gov/sites/members/tx10_mccaul/pdf/Investigaions-Border-Report.pdf
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
bccmeteorites
Don't believe everything NASA says.
11:17 PM on 05/31/2010
Long on rhetoric and hyperbole short on facts.
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dadw5boys
Disabled Vietnam Vet
04:12 AM on 05/31/2010
Well here Illegals have been caught a lot driving new vechiles and carrying a lot of dope !!!!!!!
So they are beng setup as mules to drive the dope around the country for gangs out west is seems.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
drini
daughter of houdini
12:42 PM on 05/31/2010
and who is the market for the dope they are bringing in?? if there wasn't a market,there wouldn't be any need to run drugs into America.

you don't supposed those darned illegals are buying it, what with their high wages from lawn maintenance, fry cook, and dishwashing jobs, and lots of disposable income, do you?
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
Please-Play-Fair
01:35 AM on 06/01/2010
If you want to keep choosing to blame America for illegal immigrants, then let's shut down the border completely and stop drugs and firearms going either direction.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ugly american
"I drank what?"- Last words of Socrates
03:29 AM on 06/03/2010
1. Actually a good number of those illegals are buying it along with everyone else. Here in Louisiana we have some serious crack problems turning up in our newly minted barrios.

2. There is no need for Mexicans to run drugs into or around America. We are more than capable of producing our own and usually of a much higher quality, thank you very much.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
dtairtime
It is what it is
12:18 AM on 05/31/2010
Who cares if their crime rates are higher or lower. It is an easily preventable crime so why keep rewarding illegals to come here?

For anyone who wants to talk about how citizens commit crime too - yes you are right they do.

But if your loved one was a victim of a crime by an illegal would you still be so cavalier? We can't deport citizens to remove the incentive to commit crimes. We can deport illegals and we should. There is really no good reason to allow them to stay and millions of reason for them to go.

If we are really so hard up for people who work hard all we need to do is open up immigration to a few billion of poor, hard working folks who haven't broken our laws from countries (ones that have few people here) that would help add to the diversity of this country. Or is that not really the reason you support illegals??
01:23 AM on 05/31/2010
In reply to the fellow who wants to stock up on guns, and questions whether immigrants indeed cause more crime, let me tell you as someone who regularly runs "raps" reports for a police agency, that , yes, there is more crime within the Hispanic community.
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
Please-Play-Fair
01:36 AM on 06/01/2010
careful ... you might be labeled a racist.
12:03 AM on 05/31/2010
Arguably, some of the crime rhetoric may not stand up to scrutiny, however, many illegals are far removed from being civic citizens.

Simply, they are all criminals and exploiters of a legitimate, functional, yet often weak, society.

They have all violated federal law (Title 8 of the US Code); that's 20-40 million crimes committed.

As for the law's constitutionality, that argument will be decided on whether Arizona has stepped on often immobile federal feet.

Homeland Security Goof Napolitano believes in the laws constitutionality, perhaps.

Napolitano was against illegal immigration before she was for it.

Her 2007 law as Arizona's governor revoked the licenses of any business that employed illegals. Now as a federal liberal, she questions Arizona's just law.

Prof. Sampson's trite comments do little to buttress your little post.

Sociologists have long since agreed that Hispanic/Latino family ties are strong...about as strong as their misplaced egos.

Similarly, their "support networks" are something that cannot be denied, it is true across societies; "birds of a feather..." type thing.

In the present context however, that "support network" allows them to assist others in doing crime (coming here) and remaining undetected.

Bottom line is that they and their supporters ignore the right of a nation to make and enforce laws that have, as a whole, created the society they wish to exploit.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ugly american
"I drank what?"- Last words of Socrates
03:36 AM on 06/03/2010
Good heavens! You sound like me! Fanned!
10:09 AM on 06/03/2010
you hit the nail on the head!They are some of the most racist people inthe USA.They don't really want to be part of the American culture,but they are sure willing to benefit from it.
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Democrat in the South
Empathy, the most important word
11:55 PM on 05/30/2010
I think it's a Republican "strategery" move to force Obama to deal with it so Obama will look bad and Republicans will get re-elected and live happily ever after. That's their story & I'm stickin' to it! But it might be another one of those 'shoot yourself in the foot' stories. Those tricky Republicans.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Contact1972
BigGayInc
02:14 AM on 05/31/2010
Actually I think this is a bad move for the Republicans. Even though SB 1070 is overwhelmingly popular with Arizonan's and some of the country, just as popular if not more so is comprehensive immigration reform. The President has already asked for bipartisanship when it comes to immigration and already the Republicans look like the 'party of no' again. In my humble opinion, I dont see moderates or independents voting for a party whose platform is just to say no to everything.
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Democrat in the South
Empathy, the most important word
09:38 AM on 05/31/2010
Hence, "shoot yourself in the foot".
02:22 AM on 06/01/2010
Just keep thinking that support for another (Sc)amnesty is anywhere NEAR the levels of opposition.. PLEASE!!
I am so looking forward to Nov....
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
Please-Play-Fair
01:38 AM on 06/01/2010
If Obama acts in the manner in which he used to get elected, he should be fine. Stop blaming republicans for Obama's lack of success. He was smart enough to become the president. If he does what he said he was going to do, the same people that voted him in, will continue to support him.
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Democrat in the South
Empathy, the most important word
03:12 PM on 06/02/2010
I don't blame Republicans for Obama's lack of success, I blame Republicans for America's lack of success. And I hope Obama succeeds in getting us out of the mess left to him by Republicans.
HUFFPOST PUNDIT
realitytrumpsbull
Two 'alves of coconut!
08:52 PM on 05/30/2010
I think if you're looking for crime statistics, the web is a great place to start with that. On the issue of illegal immigration, though, we're mainly talking Mexico, to be blunt, and when discussing Mexico you have to go ahead and remember that now we're talking international crime, meaning you have foreign nationals, within our borders, involved in some organized criminal activity, up to and including impersonating law enforcement and other public officials, bribery, collusion, aiding and abetting, all related to the phenomenon of immigration from Mexico, legal or otherwise. Drug smuggling, procurement of firearms for use in Mexico, even the widely publicized deaths of law enforcement officials in that country at the hands of violent criminals, there's some potentially very ugly aspects to the entire situation. But, one way or another, like it or not, we are neighbors with Mexico, and it's not always a rosy relationship. But, when they have stuff happening like in Nuevo Laredo, I think it was, where they actually had some people at our consulate get killed, that takes it to another dimension.
We need more law enforcement on the border, and immigration laws need to get enforced, upheld, and honored and so forth. Figures don't lie, but liars figure, and I wouldn't give you .02 for any of those statistics. Let's hear directly from border residents, and how they feel about the entire situation. Ultimately, the public burden of run-amok immigration policy falls on them.
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08:49 PM on 05/30/2010
Yes. Violent crime in the US has been on a steady decline since the early nineties. Do we attribute this to more illegal immigrants, more lax gun laws nationwide, or both?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
wandering girl
grownup
09:46 PM on 05/30/2010
I thought it was Jesus.
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Democrat in the South
Empathy, the most important word
11:49 PM on 05/30/2010
Love it!
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
Please-Play-Fair
01:40 AM on 06/01/2010
the decrease in crime rates is from legal citizens. Illegals immigration crimes are up.
12:14 PM on 06/01/2010
Can you supply me with facts? Numbers will do.

Thank you.
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Daniel Cubias
07:19 PM on 06/03/2010
This is more of what I was talking about:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37493275/ns/world_news-americas/
08:48 PM on 05/30/2010
Those stats are only for violent crimes. Virtually ALL the ilegals have committed a CRIME by coming into the US illegally. Thus, those crimes should be counted in the stats which they are not. The stats also leave out all the drug smuggling, and kidnapping by human smugglers. So the REAL stats on crime is that at the very least, every illlegal is a CRIMINAL on at least one count. They also commit other crimes such as ID theft, perjury, forgery, fraud, SS fraud, theft, and a host of others.

I had to laugh at the woman in GA who was arrested for driving without a license. She not only lied about where she lived, but she lied about having a license. So she is guilty of a FELONY on those counts alone. Thus, she loses her right to be here ever. She also lied about her citizenship status which is also a felony. So just how many felonies does she get to commit before she has to obey ANY law?
09:40 PM on 05/30/2010
Pardon me, but the reason given for the law is violent crime by illegals! Violent crime. Of course, being here illegally is committing a crime, but not a violent crime.
You give yourself away with your laughing at some woman pulled over in Georgia. What exactly is funny about that? You can try and dress it up and distract from the obvious, the law in Arizona is about hatred. Laughing at the troubles of others - hateful.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
drini
daughter of houdini
12:45 PM on 05/31/2010
SNAP Beegood.....fanned!!! hypocrites as usual!!
02:19 AM on 06/01/2010
laughing at the "troubles" of illegal tresspassers is a goood way to spend liesure time.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
wandering girl
grownup
09:45 PM on 05/30/2010
my 84-yr-old mother let her license expire, because she was in the hospital, but she continued to drive. she is thus a FELON and should be PUNISHED TO THE MAX, right?

did you know that approximately 50% of all undocumented aliens are *visa overstays," who entered legally, not by nefarious middle-of-the-night border crossing? or do they somehow not count in your "virtually" category?

btw, where are those REAL STATS you're touting?
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
Please-Play-Fair
01:47 AM on 06/01/2010
I know a number of people with VISAs and they know that keeping it current is of the greatest importance. They care enough not to let it lapse ... and they care enough to obey the US laws. This isn't a fishing license. So don't minimize it.

Your mother scenario is a lame red herring ... unless she is here illegally. If she is, then shame on her.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ugly american
"I drank what?"- Last words of Socrates
03:48 AM on 06/03/2010
Where do you get the stat that "50% of all undocumented aliens are visa overstays"?
Out of an estimated population of 15 to 20 million unregistered foriegners in this nation, an estimated 12 million are from Mexico alone. The US NEVER issued enough visas to Mexican citizens to account for that many as "overstays."
08:07 PM on 05/30/2010
Lies, Dam n lies, and Statistics.
You can make numbers do anything.
Phoenix is now the kidnapping Capital, but somewhere crime is lower?

Give it up. Illegals are criminals, they often bring crime and drugs. and Americans are sick of it (and sick of those who defend these criminals).
See you in November!
BraveWarrior
The truth will set you free, like it or not
08:37 PM on 05/30/2010
You know the people who get rich exploiting their labor are breaking the law. These law breakers are mostly white. How many have ever been arrested, prosecuted or jailed? Just name a few lawbreakers who were ever even fined.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
dtairtime
It is what it is
12:24 AM on 05/31/2010
And I think you would be hard pressed to find a SINGLE person who supports our immigration laws, wants to deport illegals and won't ever let amnesty happen who wouldn't LOVE it if a big company (or even a small one) owner went to jail for hiring illegals.

I want the criminal employers to face stiff fines and then jail time plus fines if they are caught. The problem is that building a case against employers is costly and time consuming. If we simply removed the other rewards for illegals and mandated e-verify we would see some great progress.

A question for you:

Did you know that most of the same people who are fighting the AZ law also fight even harder every time someone tries to get mandatory e-verify for all employers?
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
Please-Play-Fair
01:53 AM on 06/01/2010
blah, blah, blah ... we can't hear you.
Jay Haney
My nuclear family imploded when I was 18. I've bee
12:35 AM on 05/31/2010
Most of the druggies I know are home-grown. Ditto the dealers and non-related criminals. If anything, all those brown people you're scared of tend to treat me better than "my own kind" (I say that with the utmost sarcasm).

Even with the understanding that you can make numbers do anything, just where are your stats for Phoenix's kidnapping capital honors?
07:51 PM on 05/30/2010
Mr. Cubias, you miss the point.

They are illegal!

I know this fact is lost on some, especially the federal government, whose policy it has been to leave the borders open to create the North American free trade zone, but this no longer makes sense and the people of America want it properly dealt with in a common sense and sane way.

Let the federal government have visitors/workers register properly at a border crossing so we know who is coming here.

Your article is a strategic attempt to change the subject.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
wandering girl
grownup
09:38 PM on 05/30/2010
actually, the article is on one *specific* aspect of the immigration issue. you seem to have missed that point.
07:41 PM on 05/30/2010
We need to open our borders and let anyone in who wants to come.

That will end violent crime!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ugly american
"I drank what?"- Last words of Socrates
03:57 AM on 06/03/2010
No it would not end violent crime to open our borders.
However, with the extra 1.7 billion people from all over the world who want to come here looking for jobs or aid to get by until they could find one, it might end the UnitedStates of America. You may want to "teach the world to sing in perfect harmony", but a lot of the new pople who would come here would just want to teach the US a new way to hurt.
11:00 AM on 06/13/2010
What???? Are you serious?????