New York, N.Y. — When a crime makes headlines with “illegal immigrant” prominently featured, it’s worth asking why that particular characteristic deserves top billing.
Recent research consistently demonstrates that undocumented immigrants commit crimes at significantly lower rates than native-born citizens, yet selective media coverage continues to reinforce contrary perceptions.
A National Institute of Justice-funded study examining Texas arrest records from 2012 to 2018 found that undocumented immigrants were arrested at less than half the rate of native-born citizens for violent and drug crimes, and at just a quarter of the rate for property crimes. This pattern remained consistent across various offense types including homicide, assault, sexual assault, robbery, burglary, theft, and arson.
For homicides specifically, undocumented immigrants had the lowest
arrest rates throughout the entire study period, averaging less than
half the rate at which U.S.-born citizens were arrested. Drug offense
arrests showed a similar pattern, with undocumented immigrants
less than half as likely to be arrested as native-born citizens.
Despite these statistics, Right-wing media outlets such as FOX TV or The New York Post continue to emphasize immigration status in crime reporting when the perpetrator is undocumented, while rarely highlighting citizenship status when the offender is American-born. This selective framing creates a distorted impression that undocumented immigrants pose a disproportionate criminal threat.
Consider how bizarre it would seem if headlines routinely emphasized other demographic
characteristics: “Straight man arrested for human trafficking” or “Brown-eyed woman
charged with embezzlement.” We would immediately recognize such framing as
irrelevant and potentially prejudicial. Yet immigration status receives different
treatment, despite evidence suggesting it correlates negatively with criminal behavior.
The researchers who conducted the Texas study concluded, “There is no evidence that the prevalence of undocumented immigrant crime has grown for any category.” In fact, the share of property and traffic crimes committed by undocumented immigrants either decreased or remained relatively constant throughout the study period.
This disconnect between data and perception isn’t accidental.
It stems from a media ecosystem where certain outlets benefit from stoking fear and outrage. Sensationalized headlines generate clicks and engagement, even when they promote misleading narratives. The New York Post headline cited above exemplifies this approach, emphasizing both the gruesome nature of the crime and the perpetrator’s immigration status.
What’s particularly striking about the Texas data is that it allowed researchers to differentiate between documented and undocumented immigrants-something most previous studies couldn’t accomplish. This distinction revealed that undocumented immigrants consistently had lower offending rates across virtually all crime categories compared to both U.S.-born citizens and documented immigrants.
Media responsibility doesn’t mean ignoring immigration status entirely when relevant to a story.
Rather, it means providing proper context and avoiding implications that individual cases represent broader patterns when data suggests otherwise.
It also means applying consistent standards in reporting-if immigration status merits mention for undocumented offenders, then citizenship status should be equally newsworthy for native-born criminals.
The consequences of biased reporting extend beyond mere misperception.
They shape public policy debates, influence voter attitudes, and can contribute to discrimination against immigrant communities. When media narratives consistently contradict empirical evidence, they undermine informed civic discourse.
Responsible consumers of news should approach crime reporting with healthy skepticism, particularly when headlines emphasize characteristics like immigration status. Ask whether such framing serves to inform or inflame, and seek out sources that provide comprehensive context rather than isolated anecdotes.
The data is clear: undocumented immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born citizens.
Our media narratives should reflect this reality rather than reinforcing unfounded stereotypes. Just as we would find it absurd to headline a criminal’s eye color or sexual orientation, we should question why immigration status receives such prominent treatment in crime reporting when statistics consistently show it’s negatively correlated with criminal behavior.
Data vs. Sensationalism: Perception of Immigrant Crime Rates (May 2, 2025)
