Summary
In 2024, several U.S. border cities reported a drop in violent crime rates below the national average. The FBI's data shows that these cities, which are majority-Latino, had lower rates of homicides compared to the national figures. This information contradicts claims that border communities are crime hotspots due to immigrant arrivals.
Key Facts
- In 2024, violent crime rates in several U.S. border cities fell below the national average.
- The FBI data showed these cities had a violent crime rate of 356.5 per 100,000 residents, slightly below the national average of 359.1.
- The homicide rate in these border cities was 2.5 per 100,000 residents, half of the national average of 5 per 100,000.
- Del Rio, Eagle Pass, Sunland Park, and Nogales reported no homicides during 2024.
- McAllen, near a high-crime Mexican city, had one of the lowest violent crime rates at the border.
- Despite a decrease in crime, federal funding cutbacks threatened local crime prevention efforts.
- El Paso saw a significant rise in homicides during the first half of 2025.
- Some cities, like Laredo and Sunland Park, used AI-enhanced drones to address crime due to officer shortages.
