MYTH: Training Local Police to Enforce Immigration Law Will Make our Communities Safer

Restrictionists often prescribe this mythological solution to the mythological problem of high crime rates among immigrants. But, it's far from the truth! But, before you throw your hands up in defeat when you hear someone repeat it, consider responding with these quick mythbusting facts!FACT: Engaging in 287(g) programs can be costly to the local police department. Three months after Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopia County partnered with ICE, the office had created a $1.3 million deficit. By the end of the first month of the partnership, deputies began working 4,500 extra hours every two-week pay period (compared to 2,900 extra hours previously). In April 2007, deputies worked more than 9,000 overtime hours at a cost to the county of $373,757.FACT: Staffing the immigration beat pulls police officers away from their other duties. In Maricopa County in 2006 and 2007, patrol cars arrived late two-thirds of the time on more than 6,000 of the most serious calls for service. In order to staff the immigration team, Sheriff Arpaio pulled deputies off patrol beats and used them to staff the human-smuggling unit. Every patrol district, the trails and lake divisions, and central investigations bureau all lost deputies. Armed with fewer deputies, the districts’ response times to emergency calls increased.More mythbusting facts on this issue can be found in the IPC's Immigration Fact Check entitled "What Happens When Local Cops Become Immigration Agents?"

http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/images/File/factcheck/AZTribuneSeries8-6-08.pdf

MYTH: Immigrants Send All Their Money Back to Their Home Countries

FACT: While it is true that immigrants remit billions of dollars a year to their home countries, this is one of the most targeted and effective forms of direct foreign investment.

FACT: In addition to the consumer spending of immigrant households, immigrants and their businesses contribute $162 billion in tax revenue to U.S. federal, state, and local governments.

More mythbusting facts on this issue can be found in Immigrants have enriched American culture and enhanced our influence in the world, an article from the CATO Institute.