Assessing the Relationship Between Immigration Status, Crime, Gang Affiliation, and Victimization, Arizona, 2007-2023

Résumé 0

Over the last several years, the topic of immigration has gained increased attention from politicians, policymakers, and the media. This attention has centered on the prevalence of undocumented immigrants entering and residing within the United States, concern over increasing crime rates involving undocumented immigrants, and the appropriateness of the various policies aimed at controlling the influx of undocumented immigrants into the country. The recent wave of immigration from Latin America has led to a renewed public outcry and overall concerns regarding the relationship between immigration, crime and gang involvement, and the safety of the American public. Thus, the goal of this project was to conduct a multi-methodological study to examine immigrants' involvement in crime, gang membership, and experiences with violent victimization. In addition, this project examined alcohol and drug use among immigrants. This project relied on data collected in Maricopa County, Arizona. Specifically, this project relied on analyses of previously collected quantitative self-report data from a sample of recently booked arrestees, analyses of quantitative self-report data collected from a community sample of immigrants (of different immigration statuses) and US-born citizens, and analysis of qualitative data collected from a community sample of immigrants (of different immigration statuses) and US-born citizens. The results provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between immigration status and crime, gang involvement, and victimization as well as an understanding of immigrants' alcohol and drug use, relative to US-born citizens.