Age at migration matters: Offending among the first generation

Abstract

Recent political events have brought renewed attention to the adaptation of immigrants in the United States, and their involvement in crime. Immigrants vary significantly in terms of when they migrate into the country. According to the Current Population Survey (CPS) (2017), of the population of approximately 13 million foreign-born immigrant children living in the United States, approximately 40% arrived during early childhood, 30% during middle childhood, and 30% during adolescence. A better understanding of the relationship between age at migration and offending can inform not only immigration policies, and policies related to the control of crime, but also policies related to immigrant-receiving institutions such as schools and social services. Using data from The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97), this study explores the influence of age at migration on criminal offending among foreign-born immigrants who migrated prior to adulthood.