Study on Utah immigration and crime released

Updated: 2/10/2011 8:58 am | Published: 2/09/2011 2:48 pm

Images

I.C.E. Agents Deport Criminal Aliens at Salt Lake International (Don Hudson, Don Hudson)

Related Links

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – Recent legislation and public uproar has led to discussion over illegal immigration and crime in Utah.

Utah’ Sutherland Institute recently published a report outlining crime/correctional data on illegal immigrants in Utah.

The Sutherland data reveals that while there are several undocumented people within Utah’s legal criminal/legal system, they make up only a small percentile of the total.

The data also suggests that the rise in illegal immigrants in Utah does not correlate with any rise in Utah’s crime rates.

Here’s Utah’s illegal immigrant/criminal data by the numbers:

-Undocumented immigrants make up about 5% of all detainees in Utah’s county jails

-Of the average 6,185 inmates in the Utah State Prison system, only 282 of them are undocumented immigrants (4.6 percent).

-Among murderers in the Utah state prisons, undocumented immigrants represent 12 percent.

-Among sex offenders in the Utah state prisons, undocumented immigrants represent 9 percent.

-Since 1978, Utah illegal immigrant population has grown from 300 Hispanics per 100,000 Utahns to 1,100 Hispanics per 100,000 in 2008. During that time, the Utah violent crime rate (aggravated assault, robbery, forcible rape, murder and nonnegligent manslaughter) decreased from 272 crimes per 100,000 Utahns to a decades-low rate of 224 crimes per 100,000 Utahns in 2008.

Other data are more difficult to track, such as how many illegal immigrants use stolen identity to gain employment and governmental benefits.

The report was written by BYU sociology professor Dr. Charlie V. Morgan with assistance from John Cutler.

The Sutherland Institute is a conservative public policy think tank headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Another research project funded by the Center for American Progress estimates that there are approximately 10 million undocumented immigrants living in the US, and that it would cost about $200 billion to arrest, detain, legally process and transport (deport) all of them over a 5-year period.

Be sure to watch ABC 4 News Thursday at 10:00 p.m. as Don Hudson spends a week with an illegal immigrant to see how she tries to work, live and not get caught while living in Utah.

----Information from: Sutherland Institute.

Story Comments

Print Story

15 Comment(s)

Comments: Show | Hide

Here are the most recent story comments.View All

The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of ABC4

magyart - 2/11/2011 9:11 PM

0 Votes

Report User

Help fight illegal immigration. Visit the NumbersUSA and the ALIPAC websites. We need federal E-Verify legislation to force employers to verify social security numbers. I don't care if the crime rate in going up or down. Any crime comitted by an illegal resident could have been prevented, if the border was secure.

Morti Rice - 2/11/2011 1:40 AM

0 Votes

Report User

I'm curious if the crime stat numbers were appropriately adjusted to reflect changes in UCR requirements over the years. This can skew the numbers down significantly. Additionally, how does Utah report their crime stats? Is each offense reported or only the worst offense in the case of an offender that is being charged with more than one offense? Sorry, I'm not buying the numbers and believe they are much higher than what was used in this story.

penumbra - 2/10/2011 11:14 PM

1 Vote

Report User

We often hear about "compassion". But what of the identity theft victims? What of the victims who wait in their home countries to come here legally, what of those here legally who's visas are expiring but would like to stay but will comply and return home, and what of those who must cross oceans to come here? - amnesty heavily favors a very limited number of countries with borders close to the US. Do they not also deserve our compassion?

penumbra - 2/10/2011 11:14 PM

0 Votes

Report User

The sample of crime rates was conducted during an economic boom. This too could bias the sample as more employment has the potential to lower crime rates and the obvious (but unanswerable) question is would crime rates have declined more if illegal immigrants were not present. When the study did extract illegal immigrants in State Prisons it was noted that found illegal immigrants did commit a disproportionate amount of crime compared to the illegal immigrant population. The study justified the data by arguing that illegal immigrants are held longer in prison but acknowledge no evidence of such - it could just as easily be argued (with no evidence) that they are deported prior to fulfilling their terms. [.....] While acknowledging a high incidence of identity theft (which often includes document fraud), the study disregards it's serious nature by cavalierly stating it's "an easy problem to solve" with new ID options. What of the victims (often children)? What about the serious nature of the crime which impacts victims' employment records, taxes, credit ratings, ability to obtain loans, and may corrupt medical records which can result in life-threatening consequences. Based on the conclusion, the study seems supportive of amnesty for this serious crime leaving victims to clean up the mess. Furthermore, the ITIN solution suggested neglect the fact that it can only be used for Federal taxes - the Federal Government will not recognize an ITIN for work authorization (an ITIN is not at all equivalent to a green card) and an ITIN can not be used to pay social security taxes.

penumbra - 2/10/2011 11:12 PM

1 Vote

Report User

First, in my opinion, the crime stuff is a distraction put forth by the pro illegal immigration groups - there are many more reasons besides crime that so many are demanding the problem be addressed. [.....] I read the report. To begin with, the crime proportions are moot as they shouldn't be here in the first place to commit the crime. Thus, by definition, any crime they commit in whatever proportion is additive. The "study" lumps legal and illegal immigrants together in their "National Context" section. It's an old tactic and invalidates the data in the section as the actual population of interest (illegal) is not specifically sampled. The data is skewed, [.....] Next, the study also looks at "Hispanics" and "Mexicans" to draw various conclusions. Again, legal immigrants (many Hispanics and Mexicans are legal immigrants or citizens) are lumped with illegal immigrants. Furthermore, illegal immigrants are not just limited to Hispanics or Mexicans. Again, the specific population is extracted from the larger population again allowing effects of the specific population (illegal aliens) to be diluted by the larger population. [.....] The study compares increases in population of one ethnic group with overall crime rate for the entire population. It should have compared the ethnic group's population increase with that of the crime rates of that ethnicity to avoid compensatory increases or decreases for the rest of the population. Additionally, the illegal alien crime rates of that ethnic population should also be extracted out and compared to that ethnicity's crime rates.

Casca - 2/10/2011 8:04 PM

2 Votes

Report User

As more States insist on zero tolerance laws, millions of illegal nationals will exodus those regions and speedily head for places such as the Sanctuary State of California, Nevada, Colorado, Utah and other welcoming location with their hands out for millions of dollars in public services and entitlements. This huge departure situation is happening now in the non-tolerant in the Grand Canyon State, as the illegal alien population is leaving and crowding into California and States where their is welfare and little or no enforcement laws. That means some easy-going States will be splitting at the seams with more migrant refugees pouring in, that the lunatic fringe in the legislators has allowed to proceed. Taxpayers will really be hurting in States where no policing laws are prevalent. If this is not your idea of rampant welfare entitlements for illegal workers and their families, you had better search your conscious and see if your compassion is wrecking your states future.

Casca - 2/10/2011 8:03 PM

1 Vote

Report User

America will always need the highest skilled scientists, engineers and computer experts that will be highly sought after for their qualifications. These legal immigrants will never become a public charge, looking to apply for food stamps and public welfare. However what we don't need, nor should they be accommodated by the radical open border zealots, is the desperate, impoverished who slip into this nation without a penny. They are exploited by all different trade contractors, sub-contractors and any incorrigible employer such a "Chipotle" fast food group of eating houses hiring hundreds of illegal laborers. These are jobs that our own children can do or legal resident teens, which right now in this complex recession could make a little extra money for college. It is estimated there are at least 8 million foreigners in every caliber of jobs; not just using a leaf blower or bricklayer or janitorial services. No longer can this country afford to cater to those people who slip through immigration loopholes such as the instant-baby-citizenship of the 14th amendment and allowing the indigent parent to stay. This fraudulent enterprise on its own costs US citizens billions of dollars a year, especially when the rest of large family is smuggled into this land.

Casca - 2/10/2011 8:03 PM

2 Votes

Report User

We must stop coddling the destitute of other countries, and look to our own population below the poverty line. We must make E-Verify, 287 (g) policing authority, a mandatory high priority, with hefty fines, confiscation of company assets and painful prison sentences. Our country is in a serious situation, brought on by thirty years of illegal immigration neglect and now States have seen the writing on the wall and costs for education, health care and imprisonment, which the US government never reimburses? Those soft States that bow down to the illegal immigration invasion, will soon find themselves in a financial quaternary. Astronomical amounts of money in food stamps and too many freebies for illegal nationals to subsist on, thanks to both political parties. This blogger gets thousands of emails a day, which my response is a format letter. Just like Egyptian revolution, it’s up to the larger majority of the American people to stand up and protect and defend their citizenship, the US Constitution from Liberal progressives who would steal it from you. Make a point of joining the TEA Party, or a pro sovereignty organization such as NumbersUSA who allows free faxes to your lawmakers. Above all else place a call with the federal switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask to be connected to your Senate or Representative and speak your mind.

30cal - 2/10/2011 1:27 PM

4 Votes

Report User

@Bluefurnace: I don't need another study to tell you that a study produced by an organization that has always been sympathetic to the illegal’s is going to be biased. Go ask Hershey’s to do a study on chocolate being related to obesity or ask Remington to do a study on the effects of gun control. You know what the outcome will be without even having to crack the cover. It's called common sense. Use it or shut up.

TheOtherMadGuy - 2/10/2011 12:43 PM

3 Votes

Report User

"Deputy's murder highlights Utah's illegal immigration problem" Tell this story to the family of Josie Greathouse Fox (Millard County sheriff's deputy)killed by Roberto Miramontes Roman (illegal alien) on 5th January 2010. Roman arrest record • May 1992: - Distribution of controlled substance • Aug. 1996: - Distribute/offer/arrange to distribute controlled substance - Theft by receiving stolen property - Illegal possession/use of controlled substance • Sept. 1996: - Illegal possession/use of controlled substance • April 1997: - Possession with intent to distribute controlled substance - Use or possession of drug paraphernalia - Carrying concealed dangerous weapon When is enough going to be enough?

Click Here to Add Your Comments View All