Who deserves credit for the crime decline?

Setting the record straight about public safety →

Pamela, The data is clear. Crime rates have been going down since 2023. In spite of the facts, President Trump has been stoking fear about public safety, repeatedly using the false image of a country under "invasion" and facing dangerous "lawlessness."1 His administration has used this fearmongering to justify the brutal detention and deportation of immigrants, and to promote harmful "law-and-order" policies. But now, the Trump administration has not only acknowledged the crime decline—they're taking credit for it. Without any evidence. On June 5, President Trump spoke at an event saying, "We've removed thousands of violent criminal, illegal aliens from our communities as part of the largest deportation effort in American history. And just a few months into office, the national murder rate has plummeted by 28 percent." But violent crime across the U.S. has been falling significantly since 2023. That's two years before Trump took office. The falling crime rate is good news. So why does it matter who "gets credit" for gains to public safety?  It matters because the Trump administration is trying to use the crime decline as proof that its cruel and inhumane policies are working. Only 8 percent of immigrants taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody have been convicted of serious crimes.2 But these policies aren't making us safer. In fact, this administration has worked to undo many of the services and investments that likely helped drive down crime. Vera is setting the record straight. Get the facts and find out what the latest data says about crime rates here.  With your help, we will continue to use research and data to help create safer communities. Thank you for reading,  Vera Institute of Justice   1 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/peace-officers-memorial-day-and-police-week-2025/  2 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-detentions-non-criminal-immigrants-violent-crime-convictions-analysis/ © 2025 Vera Institute of Justice. All Rights Reserved.   Vera Institute of Justice 34 35th Street | Suite 4-2A | Brooklyn, NY 11232 (212) 334-1300   Privacy Statement | unsubscribe