Cabarrus
Montgomery
Wilson on nst
Sam
Cumberland
n pso
ke
d
d
n
o Robes
Martin
Pitt
Dare Washington
Beaufor
t
Greene
Joh
Harnett
ore
Edgecombe
re
Vance
ke Wa
Dare
Da
h
Ty rre ll
Bertie
klin s Na
Lee
Mo
fax
Ca md en Currituck Pe rq u Pa squ ima ota ns nk Chowan
Gates
Hertford
Hali
Fran
Ho
n
Durham
Chatham
n Scotla
Anso
mon
n
Unio
nly Sta
Randolph
Rich
burg klen
Lincoln Rutherford Henderson Gaston Polk Cleveland Transylvania
Row an
Guilford
Northampton
Warren
Hyde
e
Catawba
Davie
Person
W ay n
McDowell
Forsyth
Yadkin
son David
Alexander
Bur
ke
Buncombe
Wilkes
Mec
Mac on
Yancey
d
Clay
n kso Jac
Cherokee
ll he itc
oo yw Ha
Swain Graham
we ll
Caswell
Rockingham
Orange
M
ison
Mad
Cald
Stokes
Surry
Alamance
Watauga Avery
Alleghany
Iredell
Ashe
Granville
The 287(g) Program: The Costs and Consequences of Local Immigration Enforcement in North Carolina Communities
Du
Bla
den
Lenoir
Craven Jone s
pli
n
Onslow
Pam li
co
Dare
Carteret
Pender
New Hanover
Columbus wick runs
B
Percent Hispanic 287(g) adopted city (Durham) 287(g) adopted counties 1.08% - 2.61% 2.62% - 4.51%
0
45
90
135
180 Miles
4.52% - 6.83% 6.84% - 12.04% 167,364 - 337,017
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Division, 2006 downloaded at http://factfinder.census.gov
Figure 7: Hispanic Population in North Carolina Counties in 2006
Taking into consideration the crime and demographic data, what appears to be happening in 287(g) jurisdictions is that there is a misperception about increased crime among immigrants. The data show that crime rates have remained remarkably steady over time leading up to the adoption of the 287(g) Program in these jurisdictions, even in the face of population growth and demographic change, including substantial increases in the immigrant and Hispanic populations. These demographic changes have most likely resulted in a shift in the racial and ethnic make-up of the inmate population, creating a perception that immigration is causing an increase in crime. What may be occurring in these jurisdictions is that the racial and ethnic make-up of community members and jail in-mates is becoming much different than the past, even among native U.S.-born population. Consequently, the main factors driving local responses and local immigration policies may be misperceptions about rising crime rates as well as fear and anxiety over the changing racial and ethnic face of community members, but not actual crime rates.
23