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Illuminating the Immigration–Crime Nexus: A Test of the Immigration Revitalization Perspective

Author

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  • Javier Ramos

    (College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77340, USA)

  • Cristal Hernandez

    (College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77340, USA)

  • Davis Shelfer

    (College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77340, USA)

Abstract

Research shows that immigration is often associated with less crime. Yet, what remains unclear is why this is the case. The primary explanation for why immigration reduces crime, according to scholars, is the immigration revitalization thesis. This perspective argues that immigration revitalizes communities by promoting local business growth, bolstering social ties, and enhancing conventional institutions (e.g., churches, voluntary organizations), which then reduce crime. These ideas, however, have never been tested. Using longitudinal data from 139 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) between 2000 and 2019, we examine whether the relationship between immigration and violent crime is mediated by changes in the percentage of households headed by married couples, number of ethnic businesses, and/or number of immigrant/ethnic-oriented organizations. The results from the generalized structural equation models (GSEM) and mediation tests offer some support for the immigration revitalization perspective .

Suggested Citation

  • Javier Ramos & Cristal Hernandez & Davis Shelfer, 2023. "Illuminating the Immigration–Crime Nexus: A Test of the Immigration Revitalization Perspective," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:13:y:2023:i:6:p:137-:d:1159256
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Garth Davies & Jeffrey Fagan, 2012. "Crime and Enforcement in Immigrant Neighborhoods," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 641(1), pages 99-124, May.
    2. Kim, Young-An & Hipp, John R. & Kubrin, Charis E., 2019. "Where they live and go: Immigrant ethnic activity space and neighborhood crime in Southern California," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 1-12.
    3. Tim Wadsworth, 2010. "Is Immigration Responsible for the Crime Drop? An Assessment of the Influence of Immigration on Changes in Violent Crime Between 1990 and 2000," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 91(2), pages 531-553, June.
    4. Daniel Kim, 2019. "Social determinants of health in relation to firearm-related homicides in the United States: A nationwide multilevel cross-sectional study," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(12), pages 1-26, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Proffit, Calvin, 2025. "Conditional revitalization: Immigration, disadvantage, and crime in divergent social worlds," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).

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