In his first week in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to deport most illegal immigrants who come in contact with law enforcement.1 His order is based on the widespread perception that illegal immigrants are a significant source of crime in the United States.2 This brief uses American Community Survey data to analyze incarcerated immigrants according to their citizenship and legal status. All immigrants are less likely to be incarcerated than natives relative to their shares of the population. Even illegal immigrants are less likely to be incarcerated than native-born Americans.
ICE Is Freezing Out the Constitution
Mass deportations poll well, in part because many Americans believe immigrants should “get in line” and follow the law. However, the core issue isn't a nation's right to enforce its borders. When people are willing to overlook constitutional violations to “solve the...
































