WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Henry Cuellar released Wednesday the latest statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation that show lower violent crime rates in cities along the Texas-Mexico border than in other major metropolitan areas across Texas and the U.S.
The data released by the FBI shows information gathered for 2015.
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"The border is often painted in an unfair light," Cuellar said. "The people who characterize the border as a violent and crime-ridden place often have never visited, or lived here. The FBI's official crime statistics for yet another year demonstrate that the border is home to some of the safest cities in the United States. Violent crimes like murder and aggravated assault are much higher even in our nation’s capital than on the Texas border. These unfounded stereotypes about the border have the potential to hurt business, and we need to stop this misinformation about the border."
The latest FBI crime statistics (2015) show:
The murder rates in Detroit and Washington, D.C., were more than twice the murder rates in Laredo, McAllen, Brownsville and El Paso combined.
The aggravated assault rate was lower in border cities compared to other Texas and U.S. cities. The statistics show Detroit's aggravated assault rate was almost 19 times the rate in McAllen, Texas. Washington, D.C., was more than 10 times the rate of McAllen.
The murder rates in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio were more than twice the murder rate of Laredo, McAllen, Brownsville and El Paso, respectively.
The robbery rates in border cities were less than half of the rates in Detroit and Washington, D.C., and significantly lower than Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio.
The rape rate was significantly lower, often by half or more, in Brownsville and McAllen than in most major cities in Texas, and in major cities like Chicago, Washington and Detroit.
Tap or click here to view the latest FBI crime statistics.