There is no strong Canadian evidence that immigrants as a group are driving the national crime rate upward. Recent Statistics Canada work instead notes research showing immigrants are generally no more likely—and often less likely—to offend than Canadian-born people.
Statistics Canada notes that research generally finds immigrants commit crime at lower rates than Canadian-born people. Recent linked datasets also show immigrant underrepresentation in some accused-person categories, while no single all-offence national immigration-status crime rate exists.
There is no strong Canadian evidence that immigrants as a group are driving the national crime rate upward. Recent Statistics Canada work instead notes research showing immigrants are generally no more likely—and often less likely—to offend than Canadian-born people.
Canada has experienced periods of rising crime, and some individual offenders are immigrants, refugees or temporary residents.
A national crime trend cannot be attributed to immigration simply because both changed over the same period. Available Canadian evidence does not show immigrants as a group offending at higher rates.
Immigration and public safety are major political issues. Separating crime trends from unsupported causal claims about newcomers matters for both public safety policy and immigration debate.
Canada
NAR-20260906-016
Fact check: Are immigrants driving Canada's crime rate up? What Canadian evidence actually shows.
Are immigrants driving Canada's crime rate up? Canada immigration crime media fact check
Short answer
There is no strong Canadian evidence that immigrants as a group are driving the national crime rate upward. Recent Statistics Canada work instead notes research showing immigrants are generally no more likely—and often less likely—to offend than Canadian-born people.
What's true
Canada has experienced periods of rising crime, and some individual offenders are immigrants, refugees or temporary residents.
What's wrong or missing
A national crime trend cannot be attributed to immigration simply because both changed over the same period. Available Canadian evidence does not show immigrants as a group offending at higher rates.
What the evidence shows
Statistics Canada notes that research generally finds immigrants commit crime at lower rates than Canadian-born people. Recent linked datasets also show immigrant underrepresentation in some accused-person categories, while no single all-offence national immigration-status crime rate exists.
Why it matters to Canadians
Immigration and public safety are major political issues. Separating crime trends from unsupported causal claims about newcomers matters for both public safety policy and immigration debate.
Key evidence or evidence note
The factual baseline prioritizes Statistics Canada, IRCC, federal law and CRTC data. Broad claims are qualified where Canadian datasets do not support a single universal rate or ownership measure.
Review status
Confidence: High · Last reviewed: September 6, 2026 · Narrative ID: NAR-20260906-016