Trump Administration Deletes Key Study Basing Immigrants as Less Criminal Than Citizens

The Trump administration has controversially removed a Justice Department webpage that linked to a study indicating that undocumented immigrants commit significantly less crime than U.S. citizens. This move raises questions about the administration’s commitment to presenting factual information, as the study’s findings directly oppose the narrative often promoted by Trump and his allies that migrants are a source of violent crime.

The study, funded by the National Institute of Justice, analyzed crime data from Texas between 2012 and 2018, and it revealed that undocumented immigrants were arrested for violent and drug-related crimes at half the rate of native-born citizens. Furthermore, the undocumented population committed property crimes at only a quarter of the rate of U.S. citizens, emphasizing that they represent a lower overall offending rate for both felony and violent felony crimes in the state.

Prior to its removal, this information supported the broader consensus among researchers that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than their native counterparts, a point frequently ignored by the Trump administration’s rhetoric. The Department of Justice has not commented on the removal of this webpage, which immigration expert David Bier noted occurred recently, prompting speculation about the administration’s motives.

The Trump administration has a history of labeling unauthorized migrants as “violent criminals,” despite evidence indicating that a significant portion of those in immigration detention have not been convicted of any crime. This stark contradiction paints a clear picture of how the Trump administration distorts facts to fortify its punitive immigration policies and justify mass deportation efforts.

As Trump continues his political campaign, he has exploited public fear surrounding crime, often conflating immigration with a narrative of danger. In stark contrast to the findings of the now-deleted study, Trump claims that his administration’s actions prioritize public safety by removing individuals he paints as “killers” and “rapists.” This narrative serves both to distract from the evidence of lower crime rates among undocumented immigrants and to reinforce a harmful, xenophobic agenda.