Abstract

The perceived criminality of the foreign-born served as an impetus for early state and local action in controlling immigration and was critical to involving the federal government in immigration regulation in the 19th century. Each of the major waves of immigration to the U.S. sparked nativist movements and policies as the native-born sought to distance themselves from newcomers and firmly establish the dominance of preceding immigrant groups. This chapter offers an overview and history of immigration and crime, with attention to immigration trends, nativist movements, and the policies influenced by both. Evidence suggests that the perception of the criminal immigrant is firmly rooted in U.S. history as opposed to a novel feature of the current political landscape.