这样的话，当我们听到一些知名犯罪学家一致认为移民并不会导致更多的犯罪，反而有可能遏制犯罪时，惊讶也就在所难免。哈佛大学的萨姆普森在2006年发表了一份研究。他和同事从1995年至2002年跟踪调查了芝加哥有着不同的文化和种族背景的近3000名青年。他们发现，与有着同样社会经济环境的同龄人相比，来自移民家庭的孩子更少参与帮派斗争、纵火、抢包等不良行为。不仅如此，研究还发现那些刚巧住在移民社区的美国本土孩子也较少参与暴力活动。萨姆普森解释说，移民家庭通常都很贫穷，与其他贫穷家庭相比也更稳定，多是双亲家庭，这些都是被普遍承认的能减少暴力行为的因素。

    In fact, immigrants are crime victims as well as criminals. There is a long, ignominious tradition in this nation of violence toward newcomers. In recent years more than ever immigrants who enter America illegally are at the mercy of smugglers, and many die in boxcars or ships before arriving here. Others, in order to "work off" their debt to their smugglers, become slaves all but in name, and are subject to extortion, forced prostitution, and sweatshop jobs.

    实际上 ......