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Illegal Immigration: A Massive Net Drain on U.S. Taxpayers

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No kidding.

'Illegal Immigration: A Massive Net Drain on U.S. Taxpayers'

<https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/03/illegal-immigration-massive-net-drain-u-s-taxpayers/>

'he economic reality is clear: illegal immigration is not a net benefit
to the United States. It is a burden that taxpayers, law enforcement,
hospitals, and victims of crime are forced to bear—one that could be
eliminated by enforcing immigration laws and prioritizing the well-being
of legal residents and citizens.

Studies from organizations such as the Center for Immigration Studies
(CIS) have determined  that illegal immigration creates a net fiscal
drain, with the cost of public services far exceeding any contributions.
A Manhattan Institute study estimates that the surge of illegal
immigrants between 2021 and 2026 will cost taxpayers $1.15 trillion over
the lifetime of these new illegal immigrants—a figure larger than the
entire U.S. defense budget and nearly equal to the cost of Social
Security in 2023. With numbers this staggering, the financial strain of
illegal immigration is impossible to ignore. And even worse, these costs
continue to rise as more resources are allocated to support illegal
immigrants, further straining public budgets.

Advocates often point to the taxes illegal immigrants pay—such as the
$96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022, according to
the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. However, this figure
fails to account for the broader economic reality: most illegal
immigrants do not pay federal or state income taxes, do not contribute
to Social Security or Medicare, and impose far greater costs on public
services than they contribute in tax revenue.

Even the argument that illegal immigrants boost GDP falls apart under
scrutiny. The Center for Migration Studies at New York University claims
that legalizing the undocumented population would contribute $1.2
trillion to the U.S. economy—an implicit acknowledgment that illegal
immigrants, as they currently exist, are not meaningfully contributing.
Unlike legal residents, many do not file tax returns and work off the
books, meaning they bypass payroll taxes entirely. While illegal
immigrants do pay sales taxes, excise taxes (on goods like gasoline and
cigarettes), and property taxes (directly as homeowners or indirectly
through rent), these payments would still be made if the jobs were held
by U.S. citizens or legal immigrants. There is no unique economic
benefit to having illegal workers in these roles.

Moreover, much of the spending attributed to illegal immigrants is done
with money they receive from government programs, creating an illusion
of economic benefit. This cycle—where taxpayer money funds welfare
programs that then enable illegal immigrants to spend in the economy—is
presented by Democrats as an economic boost. In reality, it’s a
redistribution of taxpayer dollars, not genuine economic growth.

Hospitals are legally required to provide emergency care to all
patients, regardless of immigration status. As a result, illegal
immigrants frequently receive medical treatment without the ability—or
obligation—to pay, leaving hospitals and taxpayers to absorb the costs.
This unpaid medical debt strains healthcare systems, raises costs for
insured patients, and has even contributed to hospital closures in areas
with high concentrations of illegal immigration. Some states, such as
California, have gone further by allocating taxpayer funds to provide
free healthcare to illegal immigrants, adding to the financial burden.

Beyond healthcare, illegal immigrants also consume a wide range of
public services funded by taxpayers. Public schools are required to
educate the children of illegal immigrants, costing billions annually.
While illegal immigrants may not qualify for Social Security or
Medicare, many of their U.S.-born children receive benefits through
Medicaid, CHIP, food stamps (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF), and housing assistance. Additionally, some states grant
illegal immigrants in-state tuition, driver’s licenses, and direct
financial aid. States with large illegal immigrant populations—such as
California, Texas, Florida, and New York—bear the heaviest costs,
particularly in education and welfare programs.

Contrary to claims that illegal immigrants commit fewer crimes, the data
is often skewed by underreporting. Many jurisdictions, particularly
sanctuary cities, do not record immigration status when reporting
crimes, and some outright refuse to cooperate with federal immigration
enforcement. Even if illegal immigrants committed crimes at a lower rate
than citizens, they still add to the overall crime rate. Crimes
committed by illegal immigrants would not be occurring if those
individuals were not in the country to begin with. The costs of
investigating, prosecuting, and incarcerating illegal immigrants are
borne by taxpayers. Additionally, victims of crimes committed by illegal
immigrants suffer losses—both financial and personal—that could have
been avoided entirely.

Illegal immigrants who drive often do so without valid licenses or
insurance. When they cause accidents, the financial burden falls on the
victims and their insurance providers. This results in higher premiums
for law-abiding citizens, increasing costs across the board. Traffic
violations and unpaid fines further contribute to municipal losses, as
many illegal immigrants either evade enforcement or lack the means to
pay.

Any path to citizenship or economic benefits for illegal immigrants only
incentivizes more illegal immigration. Democrats actively support the
very programs driving illegal migration while simultaneously calling for
increases in the minimum wage and the legalization of illegal
immigrants. What they fail to acknowledge is that stopping illegal
immigration would naturally cause wages in those fields to rise, making
those jobs more attractive to legal residents and native-born workers,
who would then contribute more to GDP.

At the same time, Democrats constantly push for higher statutory minimum
wages while advocating for increased illegal immigration. This
contradiction undermines their own policies—if illegal immigration were
halted, wages at the lower end of the labor market would rise
organically as businesses adjusted to a legal workforce. No
government-mandated minimum would be necessary.

When weighing any contribution to GDP, the real cost of illegal
immigration—public benefits, healthcare, law enforcement, and lost tax
revenue—must also be considered. The net effect is a drain, not a gain'

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Thread

Illegal Immigration: A Massive Net Drain on U.S. Taxpayers John Smyth <smythlejon2@hotmail.com> - 2025-03-15 12:33 -0400
  Re: Illegal Immigration: A Massive Net Drain on U.S. Taxpayers pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> - 2025-03-15 16:56 +0000
    Re: Illegal Immigration: A Massive Net Drain on U.S. Taxpayers Mitchell Holman <noemail@aol.com> - 2025-03-16 14:09 +0000
      Re: Illegal Immigration: A Massive Net Drain on U.S. Taxpayers pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> - 2025-03-16 20:34 +0000
        Re: Illegal Immigration: A Massive Net Drain on U.S. Taxpayers Skeeter <skeeterweed@photonmail.com> - 2025-03-16 15:05 -0600
          Re: Illegal Immigration: A Massive Net Drain on U.S. Taxpayers pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> - 2025-03-16 21:41 +0000
            Re: Illegal Immigration: A Massive Net Drain on U.S. Taxpayers Siri Cruise <chine.bleu@www.yahoo.com> - 2025-03-16 17:15 -0700
        Re: Illegal Immigration: A Massive Net Drain on U.S. Taxpayers Siri Cruise <chine.bleu@www.yahoo.com> - 2025-03-16 17:14 -0700

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