Statistics Show Most People Arrested by Federal Agents Were Immigrants, Even Before Trump took Office

Police talking to protesters calling for release of Minnesota Cambodian refugees”  by Fibonacci Blue licensed under CC BY 2.0

Source: Quartz

Data on federal arrests in America show that punishing immigrants for breaking the law has always been a priority, according to a new report recently published from the Pew Research Center.

In 2014, half of criminal arrests were immigration-related – an increase from only 30 percent a decade before. Furthermore, six out of every ten arrests involved non-US citizens. The statistics are concerning because the proportion of criminal arrests for other crimes not related to illegal immigration is dropping.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security alone was responsible for 60 percent of federal crime arrests in 2014.

The data directly contradicts Trump’s statements on the “lax” enforcement of immigration policies. Immigrants are, according to data, perpetually targeted by law enforcement officials.

Read full story at: Quartz

Children & Families, Justice & Poverty, News
Children & Families, Justice & Poverty, News