Immigrants, Including “Illegal Aliens” in California, Have Much Lower Crime Rate than the Rest of Us

Frank,

You are justifying the sins (crimes) of others based in relationship to the amount of sins(crimes) of yet another group.

You are a lawyer, what is the legal definition of a criminal? Someone who has broken a law perhaps?

Isn't crossing the border illegally a crime? Even you used the label "illegal aliens" in your title. Then in fact the group that does is a larger sampling of criminals than you state so here.

Apparently you want to give them all a pass on breaking THAT law and start keeping score later, after they are "established" here. Then you reference their relative lack of criminal behaviour against legal citizens as a benchmark as to how "less bad" they are...

Consider the relative "lack" of crimes by illegal aliens is due to their keeping a low profile as by being caught in a crime, they should be deported, which does defeat their purpose for crossing the border illegally in the first place.

Of course, once again, you use one of the "usual suspects" of polling outfits to bolster your twisting of logic: Both common sense and the application of laws. The latter as a lawyer; you should know better.

Ps: If you give Dan Walters credibility here on this issue, shouldn't he be considered credible on other issues he brings up? He took the democratic led legislature to task especially Speaker Nunez over his personal excesses with campaign cash and his and Perata's lame attempt at extending their time in office via Proiposition 93. Just a thought...

How is it that a presumably well educated person like Frank has the audacity to tell us that illegal aliens commit fewer crimes than citizens when every single illegal alien IS A CRIMINAL BY DEFINITION? You lefty kooks really do believe your own propaganda, don't you. Amazing.

Gee whiz, I wonder if this could have anything to do with their fear of getting deported? This article is a laugh.

Hey Frank,

I read the poll. It defines what an "illegal alien" is too.

So why is "illegal alien" in your title in quotation marks? Isn't it the defacto description of some of those in question? What would a courtroom definition be if you were the lawyer involved in say an illegal alien drunk driving case which resulted in the deaths of American Citizens?

What does "illegal" mean to you. Isn't that something which is against the law, i.e. a crime? The very fact that they are in the U.S. makes thim criminals (people who commit crimes!)

If you all consider the fact that the one crime they do commit is living in a country with no papers, that being one crime, then it makes sense. And saying that fear of getting deported is a reason for not comitting crimes, you must not ever watch the news. People commit crimes knowing they're is a possibility of going to jail. At least with that, they won't be let out for a good court determined period of time. What's to stop a deportee from crossing again? I'm not for it but only because laws are laws. That's pretty much the only reason.

Hey Frank

Immigrants entering the country illegally is a federal misdemeanor, re-entering the United States after having been deported = a felony that carries up to 20 years in prison.

Bush has been a real eye-opener!!! What harms could be possible with 20 million illegals? Perhaps you think our Troops are getting flowers in Iraq...
ty for the laugh...hope you wake-up!!!!

Without taking sides I just like to point out a serious logic flaw in Mr. Russo’s argument. Mr. Russo uses statistics on immigrants to draw conclusions on illegal aliens. For example he uses, “People born outside the United States make up about 35 percent of California’s adult population but represent only about 17 percent of the state prison population.” Immigrants are not the same as illegal aliens. You cannot use this statistic on one category of people to draw conclusion on another category. This is totally illogical. Several of the statistics given include this flaw. To equate illegal aliens with immigrants is an insult to all of us who entered the states legally.

Entering the country without the proper papers is not a crime. It is a civil infraction. That is why first-timers are deported, not imprisoned (unless they have committed a real crime, such as fraud or dealing drugs). If entering the country without adequate documentation were a crime, then our courts would come to a standstill and we would have to spend our tax dollars on even more prisons, not only because we would have to prosecute 14 million non-Americans, but also the more than 14 million Americans who have abetted their crime by hiring them. Don't hold your breath on sending good capitalists to prison, though. They contribute to both parties. Once someone here without the proper papers is deported and returns, however, then he or she is, indeed, considered to be breaking a more serious statute, although the usual punishment is another deportation. That's how huge a crime it is. If committing a civil infraction makes first-time undocumented aliens criminals, then so are all of us who have ever gotten a ticket for speeding or having an expired inspection car sticker. But those statistics are not reflected in crime figures because, like crossing the border for the first time without proper papers, they are neither misdemeanors nor felonies.

I agree with MR. Russo. Why?

1. So, us American citizens think it's unfair when an "illegal' drives drunk illegally and crashes and accidentally kills an American citizen. Okay. But,yet, this illegal is sent to jail or prison right after this. Okay.

2. What about when an American Citizen drives DRUNK and kills an "illegal"? Is that okay?

3. See, "illegal immigrants" come here because their jobs in their home countries are MONOPOLIZED BY AMERICAN COMPANIES that go to their countries because people here don't want LOW WAGES; hence, the consequence is a a flight of immigrants into this country looking for the low-wage but higher wage than their home countries.

4. honestly, I believe that the whole fault lies on our capitalist ideals; yet, we want to benefit but we don't want others to benefit from our success.

5. This country is a country for immigrants. Also, even if we're a citizens and you're not Anglo-saxon, you ARE STILL treated like a SECOND-CLASS CITIZEN: native, asian, hispanic, black, etc...

6. Truth is, minorities try to act like white people by discriminating and scapegoating on illegals. And, guess what? Minorities' second citizenship class won't ascend to the first-class caucasian citizenship until we do a social movement and make law changes and support OBAMA for a change.

Now, this is an HONEST and REALISTIC truth. There is no lie about this. If you don't believe this, your mind is basically in the gutter because you're living in another world.

Wow, there's some wishful thinking here! A HUGE percentage (think 60-80% according to LAPD) of gang members in LA county who are arrested for crimes such as rape, murder, arson and drug dealing are illegal aliens. These people are heavily tied in with the Mexican mafia as well. Many, many people who are arrested throughout California for heinous crimes are illegals and the major reason why many don't know that is the sanctuary city movement and the gag order enforced upon police officers in order to keep the tax paying public off their backs. Really, I wish this were true...because the immigration situation is clearly out of control. No where on the globe is immigration handled in such a laissez-faire way as in California.

The article was written for progressive action. Progressive is another word for left wing socialist. Enough said about any so called statistics from a socialist group on illegal aliens.

The article was written for progressive action. Progressive is another word for left wing socialist. Enough said about any so called statistics from a socialist group on illegal aliens.

So what's the big deal? Except for the American native (including North, Central & South American natives) all Americans are illegal!! No one gave us or our ancestors permission to stay in this country. WHAT ABOUT ILLEGAL DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND??? American white trash can prove they have all that integrity they're always talking about by deporting themselves. Or they should just SHUT THE HE11 UP!! I will do everything in my power to get the US hispanic population back up to where it was back in the early 1800s. Catch me if you can mofos.

Sansdoute you are obviously uneducated calling white people trash. I am white and married to a Hispanic man and my three children are biracial. I would love to see non violent offenders have the opportunity to become citizens with some exceptions of course. These individuals must pay a fine for crossing the border unathorized, no government assistance, no free college, only a certain potion of their earnings can be sent back to their home country, they must learn English and American laws, and the U.S. must enforce an ID system ran by fingerprints. I am not a politician so these are just a few points I have thought about. I also believe if American corporations have the right to run business over in foreign countries for slave wages and not do prison time illegals that don't commit felonies should be able to become American citizens. The U.S. has bigger bussiness to take care of such as Russians who are given a $100,000.00 to come to the U.S. What are you people thinking Russia tried to bomb us once and we are paying their rude citizens to come. They also recieve government assistance, have numerous children,and require interpretors. I would rather have a U.S. full of the Hispanics I have met then the Russians I have met they are lazy and when I worked with them and was in charge they would act like they did not understand me. The Mexican guys always helped a lady. So get your information straight no more Russians is the answer to the financial crisis stop picking on Hispanics anyways you all are just jealous because they make the most beautiful babies mine are!!!!!!!Oh sorry if I have any errors I have three little helpers and yes I am qualified to comment on this topic my thesis dealt with illegal criminals in the U.S. that is the population I am concerned with. Let me just ask all Americans this question: Have you ever been to the poor parts of Mexico such as Nurio Mich.? Ihave spent months their and the people are so nice but if I lived their I would do whatever to enter the U.S. even if it was illegally and you would to if you say no I'll take you their for a month or even better their is a nearby town that is even financially worse off. I have a bachelors in Criminal Justice and am currently working on my Masters and speak fluent Spanish and English and yes I would break the law and enter into the country illegally to provide my family a life not a better life a life because they aren't even offered that.

I am sorry sansdoute I was replying to mangalore when he called wite people trash. Oh and by the way what kind of educatond do you have?

I am sorry sansdoute I was replying to mangalore when he called white people trash. Oh and by the way what kind of education do you have?

ok, first of illegal immigrants are a HUGE problem in the US. Our economy is where it is because of those border jumpers, and it needs to be stopped. Since when is speaking spanish a "requirement" to obtain employment in the US??? how fkn ridiculous is that?! and if your homeland of Mexico is sooo bad why not get off your lazy ass' and fight to make it better??? did you ever think of doing something to better your country before hopping over to ruin ours? you people should be shot and killed if caught coming over here. your men are disgusting rapists and assaulters, your women are filthy prostitutes. maybe its ok to behave like that in Mexico but not in the US!!!! if you are going to be here illegally at least have respect for our country!!!! I say the US overthrows the Mexican government, since the country is empty by now anyway, and turns it into one giant prison, thats where all you fkers belong anyway!!!!

ok, first of illegal immigrants are a HUGE problem in the US. Our economy is where it is because of those border jumpers, and it needs to be stopped. Since when is speaking spanish a "requirement" to obtain employment in the US??? how fkn ridiculous is that?! and if your homeland of Mexico is sooo bad why not get off your lazy ass' and fight to make it better??? did you ever think of doing something to better your country before hopping over to ruin ours? you people should be shot and killed if caught coming over here. your men are disgusting rapists and assaulters, your women are filthy prostitutes. maybe its ok to behave like that in Mexico but not in the US!!!! if you are going to be here illegally at least have respect for our country!!!! I say the US overthrows the Mexican government, since the country is empty by now anyway, and turns it into one giant prison, thats where all you fkers belong anyway!!!!

Immigration doesn't have anything to do with the crime rate of the illegal aliens. Not a thing and so this blurb written by the lawyer actually doesn't mean a single thing. There is little to no point of rebuattle beyond... we talking about illegal aliens pal.. NOT Immigrants. La Raza talks about Immigrants.. opponents of illegal aliens talk about ... wow..... illegal aliens.

To those interested, it is important to understand the huge crime rate of the illegal aliens is documented very poorly by the Department of Justice. Illegal aliens are listed as 'white' inmates until the trial is finished, and then the inmate is classified pretty much as he wants to be by local authorities, but as their actual nationality in Federal Prison. So in spite of part of the illegal aliens NOT begin categorized as illegal aliens, the crime rate we can document is UGLY! That is changing.. that was the case in 2007 and it will be about two years before we get a real picture of the damage the illegal aliens have done to us.

The fact there are here 'illegally' means they are criminals themselves.

AS fas as I am concerned, illegal aliens include LIBERALS like this ppiece of dog squeeze Russo. He probably has a gay mexican lover.

Illegal Aliens pay just as much taxes as everyone else, everytime they purchase anything at the store they are paying taxes. Illegal Aliens in actuallity produce more jobs for the economy, it is not their fault that brilliant minds such as Bushes war messed it up for the rest of us... To keep going, 'Illegal Aliens' in this country is not that big of a deal that most of the country makes it out to be. I would love to see everyone with White colar jobs stop working in their offices and go to the Fields in California and pick strawberries to eat, i would love to see white colar peoples drop everything and clean the bathrooms in those office buildings, I would love to see White Colars do all the work "Illegals" and immigrants do.. This country was built on immigration and it is going to continue that way if you like it or not so stop complaining... and other than complaining you should pick up a shovel and improve the economy yourself. Blame yourselves not others

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