ASU study looks at perceptions, realities surrounding illegal immigration

PHOENIX - A recent ASU report takes an in-depth look at the perceptions and realities surrounding illegal immigration.

The study, which is divided into part 1 and part 2 , examines a list of issues including the effect illegal immigration has on the economy, crime, as well as public schools and health care.

ASU's Morrison Institute for Public Policy, a non-partisan think tank, commissioned the study hoping to nudge the debate towards a more rational and productive path, said Bill Hart, the study’s author and senior policy analyst.

One of the biggest debates on illegal immigration is the impact it has on the economy.

“The Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C. has said its study shows undocumented immigration costs the United States billions of dollars every year. The University of Arizona does a study that says, no, actually Arizona benefits to the tune of almost $1 billion per year,” said Hart.

Hart said states absorb the brunt of the economic costs because states often provide many of the services used by illegal immigrants.

“A lot of the cost illegal immigrants do impose are born by state and local governments, education, health care, public safety, whereas the saving accrue to the federal government so it’s a bit of an imbalance,” said Hart.

Despite arguments by both sides, Hart admits it would be hard to pinpoint the exact cost of illegal immigration.

“Whatever the impact overall, the economic impact, whether it's positive or negative, it’s probably pretty slight in context of whole U.S. economy and even whole Arizona economy.”

Another aspect the report looked at was illegal immigration and crime. Drop houses, drug smuggling, and kidnappings are all violent crimes often associated with illegal immigrants and often used as examples of why tougher immigration laws are needed.

However, despite news reports, Hart said states with high numbers of immigrants have seen a drop in crime.

“I think it's fair to say that all available research, at this point, indicates the vast majority of undocumented immigrants have no involvement in crime,” said Hart.

Of the crime committed, the report found it often involves rival gangs or is committed by residents, legal and illegal, involved with drug trafficking between Mexico and Arizona.

“A third type of crime is the crimes that are committed by undocumented immigrants, clearly they commit some. About 15 percent of our prison population are undocumented immigrants,” said Hart.

The study does point out it's difficult to estimate the actual number of crimes committed by illegal immigrants, in part, because Arizona, and other states, do no always record suspects' immigration status.