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Illegal Immigrant Incarceration Rates, 2010–2024: The Demographics of American Imprisonment

CATO | 2026-03-28 | society

Topics: Europe, United States, Society

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English Summary

A CATO study utilizing 2024 American Community Survey data reveals that both legal and illegal immigrants are significantly less likely to be incarcerated than native-born Americans. In 2024, native-born Americans had an incarceration rate of 1,195 per 100,000, compared to 674 for illegal immigrants and 303 for legal immigrants, a trend consistent since 2010. The findings suggest that mass deportation of illegal immigrants will not reduce crime rates, and policy should instead focus on removing non-citizen criminals while improving data collection on the immigration status of those arrested or convicted.

中文摘要

CATO研究所利用2024年美國社區調查數據發現,合法和非法移民的監禁率均顯著低於美國本土出生公民。2024年,美國本土出生公民的監禁率為每10萬人1,195例,而非合法移民為674例,合法移民為303例,此趨勢自2010年以來保持一致。研究結果表明,大規模驅逐非法移民並不能降低犯罪率,政策應轉而專注於遣返非公民罪犯,同時改進對被捕或被定罪者的移民身份數據收集。

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