The Hidden Cost of Immigration
Description
This brief reconceptualizes the immigration-crime relationship by examining how immigration reshapes low-skill labor markets in ways that may disproportionately disadvantage economically marginalized Black workers. Challenging the prevailing consensus that immigration either reduces crime or has no effect, it shifts attention away from immigrant offending and toward the structural conditions under which immigration may indirectly elevate crime among Black populations. Rather than treating immigration as uniformly beneficial or criminogenic, the brief argues that its social consequences are unevenly distributed across racial and economic groups.
Results from longitudinal analyses of city-level data drawn from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and the U.S. Census show that higher levels of immigration are associated with increased weekday and weeknight/weekend crime levels among Black but not White offenders. These findings suggest that competition within low-skill labor markets may weaken legitimate employment opportunities for some economically vulnerable Black workers, thereby increasing exposure to criminogenic pressures.
Integrating perspectives on labor market segmentation, strain, routine activity, and race-specific opportunity, the brief develops a theoretical framework linking immigration, racial inequality, and urban crime. By reframing the immigration-crime debate through the lens of economic displacement and racial inequality, this work offers a provocative, policy-relevant account of how immigration and racial justice agendas intersect in contemporary urban America.
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Persons
Stewart J. D'Alessio is a criminology professor at Florida International University (FIU). He earned his B.A. in History from Stetson University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Criminology from Florida State University. His recent research focuses on crime trends, sentencing disparities, and the impact of public policies on crime and justice outcomes. Prior to working in academia, Professor D'Alessio held positions at the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida, the Florida Department of Corrections in Tallahassee, and the Justice Research and Statistics Association in Washington, D.C. Professor D'Alessio also previously served as a Captain in the Military Police, and he participated in "Operation Just Cause" and "Operation Desert Storm". His unit received the "Valorous Unit Award" for extraordinary heroism during military operations in Panama during "Operation Just Cause".
Lisa Stolzenberg is a criminology professor at Florida International University (FIU). She holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Florida and both an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Criminology from Florida State University. Her research focuses on quantitative methods, emphasizing crime analysis, prosecutorial discretion, criminal sentencing, and the impacts of law and policy. Her work has been published in numerous books and journals. Dr. Stolzenberg has held research positions with Westat, Inc., the Justice Research and Statistics Association, the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, and the Florida Department of Corrections.
Troy Teresak is a doctoral candidate in International Crime and Justice at Florida International University (FIU). He earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Lock Haven University, now part of the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. in Applied Intelligence from Mercyhurst University, and an M.S. in Criminal Justice from FIU. His research focuses on immigration, labor markets, and crime. Mr. Teresak's work examines how structural factors such as job displacement and economic marginalization influence criminal behavior. He has presented his research at national conferences and received the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) Doctoral Summit Scholarship.
Content
Chapter 1. Revisiting the Immigration-Crime Debate.- Chapter 2. Theoretical Foundations.- Chapter 3. The Racialized Labor Market in Urban America.- Chapter 4. Unemployment and the Rise of Black Crime.- Chapter 5. Empirical Analysis and Findings.- Chapter 6. Discussion and Policy Implications.