The truth about crime, illegal immigrants and sanctuary cities – The Hill (blog)
There has been much rhetoric from the left and the open-borders, pro-illegal immigration lobby suggesting that illegal immigrants pose no threat to the safety and security of this nation and commit less crimes than their American Citizen and legal immigrant counterparts.
If one watches the network newscasts, the ideologues and open-borders surrogates consistently accuse Americans and law enforcement experts who suggest otherwise of being racist and anti-immigration xenophobes. If you pay attention to the rhetoric, you will find one blaring item missing facts.
I am a former Spanish speaking career detective who investigated violent crimes within the Hispanic and other ethnic immigrant communities.
I am also a forensic criminologist who is a subject matter expert in violent crime who advocates for facts and evidence. Here are some verified crime facts and statistics with you so that you will know the truth about the precarious relationship between violent crime and illegal immigrants.
Previous administrations have deliberately kept Americans in the dark about illegal immigrant crimes
Most states and our federal government have kept information and statistics about illegal immigration, crimes committed by illegals and the costs borne by you the U.S. payer out of public view. It is in fact difficult, but not impossible to locate accurate crime statistics involving illegal immigrants. The statistics are buried both to suit a political agenda and to avoid public outcry. Once you read this article, you will quickly understand why.
Demographics The Pew Research Institute estimates that as of 2014, there are at least 11.2 million illegal immigrants residing in the U.S. This population comprises approximately 3.5 percent of our countrys population.
Of these, by far the largest ethnic population, 52 percent are Hispanics comprised of Mexicans, Central Americans and Cubans.
Six states: California, Texas, Illinois, Florida, New York and New Jersey account for 59 percent of all illegal immigrants residing in the U.S. The fact that 66 percent of all illegal immigrants have lived in our nation for over ten years underscores our long-standing inability to address the serious problem of our inability to control our nations borders.
The relationship between illegal immigrants and violent crime
Research conducted by the federal government oversight organization Judicial Watch in 2014 documents that 50 percent of all federal crimes were committed near our border with Mexico.
Of the 61,529 criminal cases filed by federal prosecutors; 40 percent or 24,746 were in court districts along the southern borders of California, Arizona and Texas.
The Western District of Texas had the nations most significant crime rate with over 6,300 cases filed; followed by the Southern District of Texas with slightly over 6,000 cases.
The Southern California District with nearly 4,900 cases; New Mexico with nearly 4,000 cases and Arizona with over 3,500 criminal cases ranked 3rd, 4th and 5th.
The U.S. Department of Justice documents that in 2014, 19 percent or over 12,000 criminal cases filed by prosecutors were for violent crimes; and over 22 percent or 13,300 cases were for drug related felonies.
That same year, the U.S. Sentencing Commission found that 75 percent of all criminal defendants who were convicted and sentenced for federal drug offenses were illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants were also involved in 17 percent of all drug trafficking sentences and one third of all federal prison sentences.
The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Sentencing Commission reported that as of 2014, illegal immigrants were convicted and sentenced for over 13 percent of all crimes committed in the U.S.
According to the FBI, 67,642 murders were committed in the U.S. from 2005 through 2008, and 115,717 from 2003 through 2009. The General Accounting Office documents that criminal immigrants committed 25,064 of these murders.
To extrapolate out these statistics, this means that a population of just over 3.5 percent residing in the U.S. unlawfully committed 22 percent to 37 percent of all murders in the nation. This is astounding.
Illegal immigrants clearly commit a level of violent and drug related crimes disproportionate to their population
Vetted crime statistics from USDOJ, the U.S. Sentencing Commission and the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) are both clear and demonstrative that illegal immigrants who comprise only 3.5 percent of our nations population, are convicted and sentenced for the crime of murder at a rate of three times that of their American citizen and legal immigrant counterparts.
In California alone, over 2,400 illegal immigrants out of a total prison population of 130,000 are imprisoned in the states prison system for the crime of homicide.
The misrepresentation of comparisons in who commits crimes between illegal immigrants, legal U.S. immigrants and American citizens
The pro-illegal immigrant lobby consistently misrepresents the criminal involvement of illegal immigrants as compared to immigrants who legally enter the U.S. and American citizens, saying that illegal immigrants commit less crimes than their counterparts. This assertion is false in most cases. Here are the vetted statistics:
In California, there are just over 92 illegal immigrants imprisoned for every 100,000 illegals as compared to 74 citizens and legal non-citizen immigrants. In Arizona, the rate is nearly 69 illegals imprisoned for every 100,000, as compared to 54 citizens and legal non-citizen immigrants.
In New York, over three times as many illegal immigrants or 169, are imprisoned for crimes per 100,000, as compared to only 48 citizens and legal non-citizen immigrants. Only the states of Texas and Florida do illegal immigrants commit less crimes than their legal immigrant counterparts (Texas with 54.5 illegals imprisoned per 100,000, compared to 65 legal immigrants and Florida with 55 illegals imprisoned, compared to 68 legal immigrants).
Texas is an epicenter for illegal immigrant crimes
Recent crime analysis by both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Texas law enforcement authorities indicate that between June 2011 and March 2017, over 217,000 criminal immigrants were arrested and booked into Texas jails.
In researching the criminal careers of these defendants, it was revealed that they had jointly committed over nearly 600,000 criminal offenses. Their arrests included nearly 1,200 homicides; almost 69,000 assaults; 16,854 burglaries; 700 kidnappings; nearly 6,200 sexual assaults; 69,000 drug offenses; 8,700 weapons violations; over 3,800 robberies and over 45,000 obstructing police charges. In determining the status of these offenders in the U.S., it was confirmed by DHS that over 173,000 or 66 percent of these immigrant criminal defendants were in our country illegally at the times of their arrests.
Sanctuary State California politicians fight against deporting criminal illegal immigrants
Currently, a fight is brewing between California Open Borders politicians and the states Democratic controlled Legislature and the Department of Justice regarding the protection of violent criminal illegal immigrants.
Hardly any Californians know that in 2014, Gov. Brown signed a bill that amended a state statute amending the maximum sentencing for misdemeanor crimes by one day from 365 to 364 days in jail. This was deliberately done to avoid current federal laws that provide for the deportation of illegal and legal immigrants in this country who have received sentences of 365 days or more.
With the newly enacted jail and prison diversion programs of Propositions 109 and 47, Gov. Brown and company are effectively preventing the federal government from removing violent and recidivist illegal immigrants from our midst through the deportation process.
The extreme costs of keeping illegal immigrant criminals in this country
According to research and statistics by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, U.S. taxpayers are footing an annual bill of nearly $19 million a day to house and care for an estimated 300,000 to 450,000 convicted criminal immigrants who are eligible for deportation and are currently residing in local jails and state and federal prisons across the country.
These figures include not only those immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, but all immigrants here who commit and have been convicted of crimes. Other accounting estimates indicate that the total cost for all corrections, medical and support services for adults and juvenile immigrant criminals nationally to be over $1.8 billion dollars.
So the next time you hear some Open Borders politician or pro illegal immigrant surrogates advocate on their behalf, ask yourself why we as American citizens need to bear the increasing costs of violence, victimization and burdensome taxes in subsidizing illegal immigrant criminals who shouldnt be in our country in the first place.
Ron Martinelli is a nationally renowned forensic criminologist and law enforcement expert. Martinelli is a retired San Jose (CA) police detective who provides forensic investigation and expert services to numerous states, large municipalities and national private law firms specializing in civil rights. He is fluent in Spanish and divides his time between California, Texas and Mexico.
The views expressed by contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.
Originally posted here:
The truth about crime, illegal immigrants and sanctuary cities - The Hill (blog)
- Byron Donalds Blames FL Measles Outbreak On 'Rampant Illegal Immigration' in Stunning Exchange With CBS's Brennan - Yahoo - August 23rd, 2026 [August 23rd, 2026]
- Criminal illegal alien charged with sexually exploiting child in Tennessee - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Illegal Immigration Added to Housing Cost Surge - The South Shore Press - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Ministers have finally admitted the unsayable about illegal immigration - The Spectator - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Federal Grand Juries in Bowling Green and Paducah indict 10 illegal aliens for immigration, other federal offenses - WBKO - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- ICE Boston arrests illegal alien charged with numerous sex crimes - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - July 30th, 2026 [July 30th, 2026]
- ICE Chicago removes former NFL player, criminal illegal alien from Kenya - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - July 30th, 2026 [July 30th, 2026]
- Joint enforcement operation targets illegal tobacco, cannabis vapes and immigration offences - Lincolnshire Police - July 30th, 2026 [July 30th, 2026]
- Illegal Immigration Killing Britain, Trump Warns New UK PM - The Whistler Newspaper - July 30th, 2026 [July 30th, 2026]
- SUPPLY, DEMAND AND DINAS DENIAL: Titus Scoffs at Link Between Illegal Immigration and Housing - Nevada Globe - July 30th, 2026 [July 30th, 2026]
- HSI Omaha leads investigation resulting in federal prison sentences for 2 criminal illegal aliens who conspired to steal millions from ATMs - ICE |... - July 16th, 2026 [July 16th, 2026]
- 5 arrested, including 3 criminal illegal aliens released into the country by the Biden administration, in Middle Tennessee human trafficking... - July 16th, 2026 [July 16th, 2026]
- ICE removes criminal illegal aliens to Honduras in partnership with Department of War - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - July 16th, 2026 [July 16th, 2026]
- Dallas Fed Paper Links Illegal Immigration To Nearly A Third Of Home Price Growth - Dallas Express - July 16th, 2026 [July 16th, 2026]
- ICE continues removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens throughout June - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Criminal illegal alien charged with aggravated assault on ICE officer in Florida - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Dallas Fed report says illegal immigration during Biden administration helped raise housing cost - CBS News - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Did illegal immigration drive up US home prices? Here's what a Fed study found - The Times of India - July 7th, 2026 [July 7th, 2026]
- DACA Illegal Alien Who Previously Molested a Toddler Sentenced for Immigration Fraud - Department of Justice (.gov) - July 7th, 2026 [July 7th, 2026]
- Cape Town anti-illegal immigration campaign appeals for wider citizenry support - EWN - July 7th, 2026 [July 7th, 2026]
- Some foreign nationals believe govt couldve managed illegal immigration crisis better - EWN - July 7th, 2026 [July 7th, 2026]
- The Birthright Citizenship Dissents and Illegal Immigration - National Review - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- From teacher pay to illegal immigration: New laws set to take effect in Mississippi - Magnolia Tribune - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Anti-illegal immigration activists in KuGompo urge govt to address their grievances - EWN - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Mthombeni says Gauteng police have capacity to manage weekly anti-illegal immigration protests - Inside Metros - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- South Africa deploys police for widespread protests by groups opposing illegal immigration - Ottumwa Courier - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- ActionSA Ekurhuleni Demands Action on Illegal Immigration and the Township Economy - ActionSA - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- KuGompo City braces for anti-illegal immigration protest after Igbo king unrest - Daily Dispatch - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- Illegal immigration: is it worth it? The answer is always NO. - MilitaryNews.com - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- Are Americans footing the bill for illegal immigration, as Mike Lee says? - NPR Utah | KUER - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- Government calls for protesters against illegal immigration to march peacefully - South African Government News Agency - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- Meghalaya BJP Seeks Tougher Curbs on Illegal Immigration Amid Growing ILP Push - Northeast Live - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- Some MPs blame the Department of Home Affairs for the illegal immigration crisis - EWN - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- The true reality of illegal immigration - Daily Voice - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- FACT FOCUS: Trump says illegal immigration increased car insurance premiums. Experts say otherwise - AP News - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- Trump says G7 united on illegal immigration and drug trafficking - Fox News - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- FACT FOCUS: Trump says illegal immigration increased car insurance premiums. Experts say otherwise - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- Trump says G7 united on illegal immigration and stopping drug trafficking - Fox News - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- Fact focus: Trump says illegal immigration increased car insurance premiums. Experts say otherwise - The Wenatchee World - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- FACT FOCUS: Trump says illegal immigration increased car insurance premiums. Experts say otherwise - Herald Bulletin - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- Fact focus: Trump says illegal immigration increased car insurance premiums. Experts say otherwise - MSN - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- HSI St. Louis investigation leads to removal of illegal alien who attempted to give baby away to pay debt to smugglers - ICE | U.S. Immigration and... - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- An illegal immigrant was working as a corrections officer in Maine before he was nabbed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE officers... - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- Deportation hits illegal immigration supply. Mandatory E-Verify will address demand - Federation for American Immigration Reform - June 14th, 2026 [June 14th, 2026]
- ICE asks officials not to release Mexican criminal illegal alien and alleged drunk driver accused of killing Georgia mother - ICE | U.S. Immigration... - June 14th, 2026 [June 14th, 2026]
- 'You're destroying your countries': Is Europe finally heeding Trump's warning on illegal immigration? - Fox News - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- DHS releases first VOICE and DHS VINE data reports emphasizing support for victims of illegal alien crime - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs... - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - Tightening on illegal immigration policies following a wave of xenophobia. Msgr. Sipuka states that "all domestic problems... - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Reconciliation Bill Will Ensure Immigration Enforcement Continues but Statutory Changes are Still Needed to Prevent Future Illegal Immigration Crises,... - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Can't we get tough on illegal immigration and still be compassionate to all? - IOL - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Illegal Immigrant Who Escaped During Immigration Office Escort Apprehended After About 19 Hours on the Run - - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Europe has reduced illegal immigration without goon tactics - The Economist - June 7th, 2026 [June 7th, 2026]
- Nearly 50 detained, 6 indicted in SC illegal immigration operation - WIS News 10 - June 7th, 2026 [June 7th, 2026]
- Lawsuit seeks to halt Tennessee law making illegal immigration a state crime - News From The States - June 7th, 2026 [June 7th, 2026]
- AG, Homeland Security, SLED announce arrests in illegal immigration case - FOX Carolina News - June 7th, 2026 [June 7th, 2026]
- Ramaphosa to address nation on illegal immigration as tensions rise - theherald.co.za - June 7th, 2026 [June 7th, 2026]
- ActionSA Disappointed by Presidents Weak and Reactionary Address on Illegal Immigration Crisis - ActionSA - June 7th, 2026 [June 7th, 2026]
- Another $90M for illegal immigration teed up - yoursun.com - June 7th, 2026 [June 7th, 2026]
- Florida Cabinet Prepares to Award Another $90 Million For Illegal Immigration Enforcement - FlaglerLive - June 7th, 2026 [June 7th, 2026]
- RECORDED | Ramaphosa addresses the nation on illegal immigration - Business Day - June 7th, 2026 [June 7th, 2026]
- Ramaphosa to address the nation on illegal immigration - Sowetan - June 7th, 2026 [June 7th, 2026]
- Ramaphosa vows crackdown on illegal immigration, warns against xenophobia - zimlive.com - June 7th, 2026 [June 7th, 2026]
- Criminal illegal alien arrested in Texas for allegedly opening fire on neighbors with assault rifle over Memorial Day weekend has been deported from... - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- June 2: Sen. Liz Brown's bill on illegal immigration ceremonially signed into law - Fort Wayne Business Weekly - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- ICE arrests 24 illegal aliens during 1-day targeted operation with federal, state and local partners in Texas - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs... - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- Government is intensifying efforts to tackle illegal immigration: SA President - Channel Africa - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- Ramaphosa to act on illegal immigration as anti-foreigner protests spread across SA - Daily Maverick - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- Government intensifies fight against corruption, illegal immigration - South African Government News Agency - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- Iran's Khamenei warns US will lose 'safe haven' in Gulf; Amit Shah forms panel on illegal immigration-lin - The Times of India - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Centre forms panel to study demographic shifts linked to illegal immigration - The Indian EYE - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Call for anti-illegal immigration demonstrators to operate within the law - EWN - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Assam urges Centre to seal its border with Bangladesh to prevent illegal immigration - News On AIR - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Government convenes urgent meeting over anti-illegal immigration protests - The Witness | Your compass in the community - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Big Banks and the U.S. Treasury Have Been Enabling Illegal Immigration for Two Decades - Center for Immigration Studies - May 25th, 2026 [May 25th, 2026]
- Judge Re-Blocks Provisions of Texas Illegal Entry Law - Federation for American Immigration Reform - May 25th, 2026 [May 25th, 2026]
- Ghana High Commission starts repatriation process after tensions over illegal immigration - EWN - May 25th, 2026 [May 25th, 2026]
- ICE arrests illegal alien accused of killing daughter in Arizona - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- EDITORIAL: Upholding the rule of law against illegal immigration - Colorado Springs Gazette - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- Three-time deported illegal alien arrested and charged after assaulting federal immigration officers in the Eastern District of Texas - Herald... - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- Border Control to Stop Illegal Immigration is Necessary to Protect the U.S., but Legal Immigration is Important Too - Daily Gate City - May 16th, 2026 [May 16th, 2026]