Wendy Long on Crime

When churches convert to mosques, poverty & crime follow

The North Side neighborhood around the mosque has a fast-growing population of international refugees. Long said she had no independent proof that such crimes are on the rise in the neighborhood since the mosque opened. When asked if she believes there's a direct link between the rising Muslim refugee population and crime, Long said, "Probably not." But she added that "the fact we have refugees who are coming in without work, many of whom are on perpetual public assistance" has led to a cycle of poverty that likely fuels crime.