Illegal Migrants Living Freely Linked To High Crime Costs

Illegal migrants on the Non-Detained Docket (NDD) have a homicide rate significantly higher than the U.S. average, according to a report by Dr. John R. Lott. The study estimates that crimes committed by these individuals cost American taxpayers $166 billion.

ICE reported that 662,566 illegal migrants with criminal records are currently living freely in the U.S. Of these, 435,719 have prior convictions in their home countries, while 226,847 face pending charges.

The report reveals that individuals on the NDD committed 14,944 homicides in 2023, a rate 13 times higher than the national average. Other crimes included 20,061 sexual assaults, 105,146 assaults, and over 60,000 incidents of burglary, larceny, and robbery.

The financial burden of these crimes is immense, with homicides alone costing $153.8 billion. Lott’s report noted that these figures likely underestimate the true impact, as many crimes go unreported or undetected.

Lott’s analysis also highlights the limited scope of the study, as it excludes half of the migrants on the NDD. This suggests that the overall cost and impact of these crimes could be far greater than reported.

The findings have sparked debate over the policies that permit individuals with criminal histories to remain in the U.S. while awaiting case resolutions.