Immigration History — Race, Crime, Sanctuary Cities & the Immigration Paradox

End of Title 42

As Title 42 expires this week, America is expecting a deluge of immigrants to pour over our border with Mexico.

The strains of migration from our southern border are not limited to the border states of Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and California. They are felt as far away as Chicago, which identifies itself as a sanctuary city. And the pressure on the resources of US cities is expected to increase rapidly, now that Title 42 has ended.

As the number of migrants swells in US cities, such as Chicago, some Americans are asking this: will we be safe? Will crime rates increase?

This question comes with its own history, dating back to the 19th century when Catholic, Jewish and Chinese immigrants flood our cities. And the same questions were asked back then by Americans — will we be safe? Will crime rates increase?

To better understand the history of US immigration and its correlation with crime, criminal procedures, and religious and racial biases, I spoke with Professor Jennifer Chacon in 2021. And that conversation remains relevant and highly informative today. In our discussion, Prof. Chacon brings focus to the history of eugenics in the context of immigration and answers questions like do…