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Jeremy French

Professor Fritsvold

LEPS 500

4 October 2015

The product of Ousey and Kubrins research suggests that immigration actually reduces

the violent crime rate in the cities where they settle. Ousey and Kubrin are quick to point out

where the gaps and limitations are in their study of immigrant influence or participation of

violent crime from 1980 to 2000. With that admission they present the quantitative data produced

by the research and it is convincing. Several other studies are cited by notable researchers that

support the conclusions of Ousey and Kubrin either directly or indirectly. Personal observations

over the twenty year career of the author also tend to support the inverse relationship between

immigration and violent crime.

Public opinion about immigrants has created a stereotype that is not based in fact but is

widely accepted by native born U.S. citizens. Ousey and Kubrin reference the work of

criminologist Edwin Sutherland to emphasize the popular misconception and policy distortion

that has driven public opinion on immigration and its perceived relationship to crime in general.

The media portrayal of immigrants in fictional films participating in gang activity and narcotic

sales is exaggerated and far from the common immigrant experience. Much of the American

public lives in segregated neighborhoods that keep them ignorant of the actual experience of

immigrants and susceptible to media suggestion when forming their opinions of immigrants and

crime. This misunderstanding has driven the widely believed myth that immigrants commit

violent crimes at a higher rate than native born citizens.

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Social disorganization theory suggests that the ecological environment that many

immigrants to the United States live in would produce a more deviant individual who would be

more likely to participate in violent crime.

Many immigrants enter the United States with relatively low levels of human

capital, which exposes them to tough sledding in the post-industrial labor market. Hence,

it is plausible that illegitimate opportunity structures such as the illegal drug trade are

particularly appealing avenues of economic success for immigrants who encounter

difficulties locating work in legitimate industries. Moreover, given that immigrants

disproportionately settle in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, it is likely they

face greater exposure to the promises (and pitfalls) of open-air drug markets. Finally,

because new immigrants are disproportionately young and male, they fit the demographic

profile of individuals recruited to participate in crack-cocaine markets (Ousey & Kubrin,

2009, p. 451).

Ousey and Kubrin suggest immigrant ghettos actually provide a protective function by

dampening culture conflict and preserving old world mechanisms of informal social control

(Ousey & Kubrin, 2009, p. 452). Ethnic groups form strong enclaves that promote cultural

preservation, social control and preservation of the traditional family structure. Ethnic enclaves

also provide achievable economic opportunities to immigrants. The support mechanism provided

by ethnic enclaves mitigate the probability of immigrants falling prey to the outcomes of social

disorganization.

Kubrin makes the convincing argument that immigrant selection effects contribute to

lower rates of violent crime. He references the research of Butcher and Piehl to suggest that
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immigrants are a self-selected group with relatively high levels of achievement ambition and

low criminal propensity (Ousey & Kubrin, 2009, p. 451. Michael Tonry argues,

many immigrants are highly motivated to come to the United States to pursue economic

and educational opportunities that are not available in their home countries. They seek to

build better lives, are willing to work hard, defer short-term gratification in the interest of

longer-term advancement, and are likely to avoid actions that put them in opposition to

mainstream norms and values of American society (Ousey & Kubrin, 2009, p. 451).

Admittedly there are gaps in the research and it is not considered to be definitive. Public opinion

and media stereotypes have contributed significantly to the perception that immigrants are

disproportionately involved in violent crime. Ousey and Kubrin have provide detailed analysis

that supports the position that first generation immigrants are less likely to be involved in violent

crime than their native born neighbors.

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References

Ousey, G. C., & Kubrin, C. E. (2009). Exploring the connection between immigration and

violent crime rates in U.S. cities, 19802000. Social Problems, 56(3), 447-473.

doi:10.1525/sp.2009.56.3.447