Donald Trump has reaffirmed his pledge to prioritize deporting undocumented migrants with criminal records, but questions remain about who he considers a “criminal migrant.” During his campaign, Trump claimed that the Biden administration had allowed dangerous individuals to enter the country, citing statistics like “13,000 undocumented murderers.” However, experts argue that these figures are misleading, as many of these individuals are already incarcerated, deported, or deceased, not roaming freely in the U.S.
Research consistently shows that undocumented immigrants commit fewer crimes than U.S.-born citizens. In Texas, the only state that tracks immigration status in criminal cases, arrest rates for undocumented individuals are significantly lower than for native-born Americans. For instance, in 2022, undocumented immigrants represented 7.1% of Texas’s population but accounted for only 5% of homicide convictions. Similar trends are evident in other crimes, including assault and drug offenses.
Critics of Trump’s plan argue that his rhetoric conflates undocumented status with criminality. Approximately 90% of the estimated 11 to 13 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. have no criminal record. Many have lived in the country for over a decade, contributing to their communities and raising U.S.-born children.
During Trump’s first term, his administration implemented a “zero tolerance” policy that led to family separations and focused on migrants crossing the border illegally rather than violent offenders. Critics warn that his broader immigration agenda could disrupt families and target individuals protected under programs like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Despite Trump’s claims, data shows that cities with higher migrant populations, such as New York and Chicago, have experienced decreases in crime rates. Texas border counties also report lower violent crime rates than the state and national averages. Advocates argue that most undocumented immigrants avoid criminal activity due to the high stakes of being caught and deported.
Trump’s deportation plan has sparked fresh debates about U.S. immigration policy, highlighting the difficulty of enforcing laws while valuing immigrants’ contributions. While Trump says his focus is on criminals, critics worry his policies might unfairly affect law-abiding undocumented immigrants.