A new immigration study directly contradicts immigration opponents in the USA. The study by Stanford University researchers found evidence that immigrants haven’t contributed to increased crime rates in the US over the past 140 years. In fact, first-generation immigrants haven’t shown a higher likelihood of imprisonment compared to individuals born in the US at all.

The researchers found that immigrants today are 30% less likely to be imprisoned than white US-born individuals. Furthermore, when taking into account black Americans, whose imprisonment rates tend to be higher than the general population, the likelihood of an immigrant being incarcerated is 60% lower compared to those born in the US.

While previous research has also debunked the claim that immigration leads to more crime, this new study gives the most extensive evidence to date of the relationship between immigration and crime across the US and over time. The researchers used Census Bureau data and focused on immigrants between the ages of 18 and 40, finding that nationwide, the idea that immigrants bring crime is unwarranted.

Immigration and crime rates
Before 1870, immigrants as a whole had higher incarceration rates than their US-born counterparts, based on census data. Between 1880 and 1950, both groups exhibited similar incarceration rates. However, since 1960, immigrants have been less likely to be incarcerated than US-born individuals.

This trend is consistent across almost all major regions in the world that serve as significant sources of immigrants to the United States. As of 2019, immigrants from China and eastern and southern Europe registered the lowest number of crimes committed relative to US-born individuals, as indicated by their lower incarceration rates.

The only exception is Mexican and Central American immigrants. However, the higher incarceration rates since 2005 can be linked to the fact that census data combines incarcerations for criminal acts with detentions for immigration offenses. Incarceration rates in this group were similar to US-born individuals between 1980 and 2005.

Additionally, when comparing the imprisonment rates of Mexican and Central American immigrants to those of white males born in the US, with a focus on education, a distinct narrative emerges. Men without a high school degree are the group most prone to incarceration for criminal activity, the researchers found

“But Mexican and Central American immigrants with low levels of education, which comprise a large share of immigrants from this region, are significantly less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born men with similarly low levels of education,” Abramitzky, who wrote this study alongside a team of US researchers, said in a media statement.

Reviewing the results

When analyzing their findings, the researchers conceded that it’s not entirely clear why the data shows that immigrants have been imprisoned at lower rates than US-born males since 1960. They tried several plausible explanations, but age, marital status, and education, for example, didn’t provide a clue about this. It’s possible that whatever is causing this trend isn’t actually included in the data.

It’s also unlikely that changes in immigration policy or deportations contributed to lower rates of immigrant incarcerations, the researchers said. Instead, they argue the likely explanation is that first-generation immigrants are acting more lawfully overall than US-born men, especially compared to those who don’t have a high school diploma.

White males born in the US are more likely to be unemployed, unmarried and in poor health, and perhaps more likely to commit crimes as a result, the researchers said. In comparison, the manual jobs typically taken by immigrants have been more stable. Previous studies have also found immigrants to be more adaptable and resilient.

“Recent waves of immigrants are more likely to be employed, married with children, and in good health,” Abramitzky said. “Far from the rapists and drug dealers that anti-immigrant politicians claim them to be, immigrants today are doing relatively well and have largely been shielded from the social and economic forces that have negatively affected low-educated U.S.-born men.”

This article is re-published from ZME Science. The study was published in the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Voice to Parliament gaining local momentum

The past month has seen a growing number of locals swing behind the Yes campaign for a First Nations Voice to Parliament. The recent ‘Walk for Yes’, organised and funded by Annerley Labor, saw just over 150 people proudly demonstrate their support for a long overdue change to our 19th century constitution.

The Walk for Yes was also attended by Federal Moreton MP, Graham Perrett, State Miller MP, Hon Mark Bailey and local Councillor for Tennyson, Nicole Johnston.

Finishing the Walk at a community BBQ in Yeronga, participants heard why the historic vote was important to First Nations communities and how a Voice to Parliament will ensure they are heard on the issues that affect them.

Coming soon, on the evening of Tuesday 11 July, Federal Attorney General, Hon Mark Dreyfuss MP, will be a special guest at a town hall session on the Voice at Sherwood Districts AFL Club in Chelmer. Graham Perrett MP is hosting the session, which is open to the public.

More public events, including town hall sessions and community BBQs are planned in the lead up the referendum, which is scheduled to be held later this year.

To find out more about the Voice to Parliament campaign visit yes23.com.au

75 years of The Catastrophe remembered

Annerley Labor has again called on the Federal Labor government to recognise the State of Palestine as it marked the 75th anniversary of The Nakba, which means ‘The Catastrophe’ in Arabic.

The Nakba, which occurred on 15 May 1948, saw the violent displacement and dispossession of at least 750,000 Palestinians due to massacres carried out by Zionist militias. At least 500 Palestinian towns and villages were ultimately either destroyed or de-populated.

A resolution, unanimously supported by Annerley Labor members, welcomed the recent decision of the United Nations (UN) to officially commemorate the Nakba for the first time as ‘an occasion to highlight that the noble goals of justice and peace, require recognising the reality and history of the Palestinian people’s plight and ensuring the fulfillment of their inalienable rights’.

The branch resolution also applauded the Australian Jewish Democratic Society (AJDS) for ‘standing firmly against the extra-judicial killings of militants by Israel and the high number of civilian casualties – including children – in Gaza and their call for Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, to speak out on the issue’.

The branch resolution has since been conveyed to Penny Wong.

Support for more Party diversity

Branch members have called on the Queensland Branch of the Australian Labor Party to fully implement 50% representation of women by 2025 and conduct all pre-selections for the 2024 BCC and State Elections with the application of a 50% quota.

In a resolution, mirroring that which was adopted at the June ALP Queensland State Conference, members were eager to ensure that the make up of the next Labor Caucuses for State Parliament and City Hall were more representative of the gender balance of the wider community.

In 1994, the ALP made the historic decision to introduce quotas for women at its National Conference. The decision, at the time prescribed, that 35 per cent of candidates preselected for winnable federal parliamentary seats must be women – whether the ALP was in government or in opposition – by 2002.

Since then, targets for women’s representation in ALP caucuses have grown to 50%.

Federally, the ALP leads in the representation of women in Parliament. Following the 2022 election, and the Aston by-election in April 2023, the Australian Labor Party in the 47th Parliament is 53 per cent women (55 of 104 total caucus members):
• In the House, 48% of members are women (37 of 77)
• In the Senate, 69.2% of senators are women (18 of 26)

However, whilst Branch members acknowledged that there are existing ‘targets’ for LGBTIQ and First Nations candidates, there is currently no target or proposed rule for culturally and linguistically diverse Party candidates in Queensland. Considering the results of the 2021 Census, which shows that our state is becoming more culturally diverse, there is now growing support to see such diversity in the ranks of elected ALP representatives.

Branch donates again to Community Plus

Annerley members have once again rallied behind Community Plus in support of its valuable work in the local area. As a result of a special donation appeal, the Branch has donated $690 to the organisation as it ramps up its physical presence and activities in Annerley.

Community Plus performs an important role in empowering local communities to be the heart of inclusive social change through their neighbourhood centres, community resilience and tenancy advice services, programs and other social activities.

Annerley Labor is supportive of a permanent community centre to be located and operate in Annerley and has welcomed the decision of Community Plus to provide services from Braille House for a few days each week.