---
title: "Immigration Enforcement"
description: "In 2007, Latinos accounted for 40% of all sentenced federal offenders -- triple their share of the U.S. population."
date: "2009-03-09"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2009/03/09/immigration-enforcement/"
---

# Immigration Enforcement

The sharp growth of both illegal immigration and the enforcement of immigration laws have led to a dramatic rise in the proportion of Latinos sentenced for federal offenses. In 2007, Latinos accounted for 40% of all federally sentenced offenders, up from 24% in 1991 and currently three times their share of the U.S. population (13%). While in 1991 just 7% of federal convictions were for immigration offenses, today they represent nearly a quarter (24%). Hispanics account for 80% of all immigration-related federal sentences in 2007. Of the total growth in federally sentenced offenders from 1991 to 2007, Hispanics have accounted for more than half (54%).[Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1124/hispanic-immigrant-crime-report)