Reality Check: Fact & Fiction In The Immigration Debate

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The number of unauthorized Mexican immigrants in the United States seems like a big number, and it is: 5.9 million people in 2012.

But that number is down one million, from the 6.9 million unlawful entries in 2007.

Minnesota has an estimated 95,000 unlawful immigrants -- 53 percent of the unauthorized immigrant population.

Wisconsin has 85,000 – 76 percent of the unauthorized immigrants.

It is true that many unlawful entries come across a porous U.S.- Mexican border.

But 40 percent of unauthorized immigrants come to the United States legally. They overstayed their visas and never went home. But that is not a criminal offense.

Improper entry into the U.S. is illegal the same way texting while driving is illegal. Both are misdemeanors which are punishable by a fine and possible jail time.

Unlawful presence in the U.S. is not a criminal offense, it is a civil violation.

Re-entry, after deportation, is a felony.

Despite political rhetoric, general crime rates among unlawful immigrants are lower than the native population.

Here are some numbers:

  • Young Mexican-born immigrants ages 18-39 have an incarceration rate of 5.9 percent
  • American born males: 3.5 percent
  • Foreign-born Mexicans: 0.7 percent

The number of deportations for immigration offenses is rising. The U.S. deported 176,968 Mexican immigrants in 2014, 76 percent of them for felony level crimes.

The most common crimes:

  • Drug offenses: 33 percent
  • Unlawful re-entry: 30 percent
  • Fraud: 15 percent
  • Firearms: 10 percent

Here are some of the sources we used for this Reality Check:

Immigration and Nationality Act

Crime Rate Among Unlawful Immigrants - 1

Crime Rate Among Unlawful Immigrants - 2

Crime Rate Among Unlawful Immigrants - 3

Overstayed Visas

Unauthorized Mexican Immigrant Populations by State

MN Driving Laws, Penalties - 1

MN Driving Laws, Penalties - 2

Immigrants in Minnesota

US Unauthorized Immigrant Population Levels Off

Politifact: Do 40% of Undocumented Immigrants Come Into US Legally?

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