Idiot. They cost us more than they contribute.
The Economic Impact of Illegal Immigration: Analyzing Costs and Benefits to the United States
The economic impact of illegal immigration on the United States represents one of the most contentious aspects of the immigration debate. With approximately 10.9-15.5 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the country, understanding the fiscal costs and benefits is essential for informed policy discussions. This report examines the evidence from multiple studies, exploring both the economic burden and contributions of illegal immigrants to the American economy.
Fiscal Costs of Illegal Immigration
The direct fiscal costs of illegal immigration to American taxpayers have been estimated by several organizations, with significant variation in methodology and conclusions.
Direct Government Expenditures
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) calculates that illegal immigration costs American taxpayers approximately $150.7 billion annually on a net basis
3. Their analysis suggests that while illegal immigrants contribute roughly $32 billion in taxes, the gross costs reach approximately $182 billion, resulting in a cost burden of approximately $8,776 per illegal immigrant or citizen child
3. According to this study, the majority of costs are borne at the state and local levels, with K-12 education representing the largest expense category at around $70 billion annually
1.
Healthcare represents another significant expenditure. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that Medicaid spending on emergency services for illegal immigrants has exceeded $16.2 billion under the current administration, representing a 124% increase compared to the previous administration
11.
Long-Term Fiscal Impact
Beyond annual costs, several studies have attempted to quantify the lifetime fiscal impact of illegal immigrants:
The Manhattan Institute estimates that the recent border surge will cost approximately $1.15 trillion over the lifetime of these illegal immigrants, with the average undocumented immigrant imposing a net fiscal burden of about $130,000
56. Their analysis suggests that immigrants without a high school diploma who arrive between ages 18-24 can receive up to $332,000 in taxpayer-provided benefits over their lifetime
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A House Oversight and Accountability Committee testimony estimated the lifetime fiscal drain for each illegal immigrant at approximately $68,000, though this estimate carries several caveats
10. The Heritage Foundation calculated that if amnesty were implemented, the average adult
unlawful immigrant would receive $592,000 more in government benefits over their remaining lifetime than they would pay in taxes9.