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Border Walls and Crime: Evidence From the Secure Fence Act

Author

Listed:
  • Ryan Abman

    (San Diego State University)

  • Hisham Foad

    (San Diego State University)

Abstract

Despite a lack of rigorous empirical evidence, reduced crime is often touted as a potential benefit in the debate over increasing border infrastructure (i.e., border walls). This paper examines the effect of the Secure Fence Act of 2006, which led to unprecedented barrier construction along the US–Mexico border, on local crime using geospatial data on dates and locations of border wall construction. Synthetic control estimates across twelve border counties find no systematic evidence that border infrastructure reduced property or violent crime rates in the counties in which it was built. Further analysis using matched panel models indicates no effect on property crime rates and that observed declines in violent crime rates precede barrier construction, not the other way around. Taken together, this paper finds that potential crime reductions are not a compelling argument toward the benefits of expanding border infrastructure.

Suggested Citation

  • Ryan Abman & Hisham Foad, 2022. "Border Walls and Crime: Evidence From the Secure Fence Act," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 48(2), pages 167-197, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:easeco:v:48:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1057_s41302-021-00207-6
    DOI: 10.1057/s41302-021-00207-6
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Border wall; Crime; Migration; Synthetic control;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • H54 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Infrastructures
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration

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