Thread: Congressional study shows illegal immigrants sap tax dollars

Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 1:11 PM MST
Congressional study shows illegal immigrants sap tax dollars

The Business Journal of Phoenix - by Ty Young Phoenix Business Journal
A study by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office released Tuesday backs up the view that undocumented immigrants sap more tax dollars than they provide, especially in education, health care and law enforcement.

The study pulled together reports from the past five years, using data from sources including the Pew Hispanic Center, the Rand Corp., the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and various universities. The Congressional study also incorporated facts from states, including Arizona, but its authors acknowledged there was no aggregate estimate that could be applied to the entire country.

The report says that in 1990, 90 percent of undocumented immigrants primarily were in six states: California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Texas.

By 2004, undocumented immigrants had increased tenfold in other states, most notably Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee, according to statistics from the Pew Hispanic Center.

The report estimates there are 12 million undocumented immigrants nationwide. Of those, 60 percent are uninsured and 50 percent of the children are uninsured. Again using 2004 statistics from the Pew Hispanic Center the average income of undocumented immigrants was $27,400 while Americans earned $47,800. The difference puts undocumented immigrants in a lower tax bracket, thus reducing the amount of federal and state income taxes generated.

The study also showed that while undocumented workers represented just 5 percent of state and federal service costs, their tax revenue did not offset the amount spent by government. The authors of the study stated that, "the general consensus is that unauthorized immigrants impose a net cost on state and local budgets. However, no agreement exists as to the size of, or even the best way of measuring, that cost at a national level."

In education, which the study notes is the largest single expenditure in state and local budgets, multiple states reported 20 to 40 percent higher costs educating non-English speaking students, many of whom come from the homes of undocumented immigrant parents. Using New Mexico statistics from 2004 as a model, education spending on undocumented immigrants comprised $67 million of the state's $3 billion education budget.

The study estimates there are 53.3 million school-age children in the U.S., 2 million of whom are undocumented immigrants and another 3 million who are legal citizens, but whose parents are not.

Undocumented immigrants are more likely to access emergency rooms and urgent care facilities because most do not have health care, the study said. In Arizona and other border areas, states paid nearly $190 million in health care costs for undocumented immigrants in 2000, the study reported. The amount, which the study says likely has risen since then, represented one-quarter of all uncompensated health care costs in those states that year.

While the report found that undocumented immigrants are less likely to be incarcerated than American natives, it said states still bear a large cost for the legal process. Based on a report from the U.S./Mexico Border Counties Coalition from 2001, counties from the four states that border Mexico spent more than $108 million on law enforcement activities involving undocumented immigrants. San Diego County in California spent nearly half of that, with more than $50 million going into law enforcement activities involving undocumented immigrants.

For more: www.cbo.gov/ftpdoc.cfm?index=8711.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stor ... ily19.html

They finally figured it out!

Skip wrote on Dec 18, 2007 3:36 PM:

" A study by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office released Tuesday backs up the view that undocumented immigrants sap more tax dollars than they provide, especially in education, health care and law enforcement. The study pulled together reports from the past five years, using data from sources including the Pew Hispanic Center, the Rand Corp., the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and various universities. The Congressional study also incorporated facts from states, including Arizona, but its authors acknowledged there was no aggregate estimate that could be applied to the entire country. The report says that in 1990, 90 percent of undocumented immigrants primarily were in six states: CALIFORNIA, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Texas. http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/87xx/doc8711 ... ration.pdf "

Thumbs down on border flick

By: BRIGID BRETT - for the North County Times

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/12 ... _13_07.txt

average income of undocumented immigrants was $27,400 while Americans earned $47,800. The difference puts undocumented immigrants in a lower tax bracket, thus reducing the amount of federal and state income taxes generated.

and allowing them to claim EIC which means they get back more than they pay in.

Yet, the Congress strips 3 billion for fence out of the bill the passed last night. OH ya, they don't care if we have our financial future strip from us.

I say, if the Federal Congress won't protect us, the states are going to have to do it. The more the states do and they squeal the more well vote for state officials willing run for federal seats and go to DC. They will have a track record of voting for ordinances and laws for enforcement and we will know their names and we can endorse them and get rid of the ones in DC now.

I say we keep a good eye on the states that are doing something and the people voting with the American citizen and encourage them to run for federal office.

say, if the Federal Congress won't protect us, the states are going to have to do it. The more the states do and they squeal the more well vote for state officials willing run for federal seats and go to DC. They will have a track record of voting for ordinances and laws for enforcement and we will know their names and we can endorse them and get rid of the ones in DC now.








Exactly GoGo!!!

I know that we all wish the problems with IAs would clear up instantly, but, unfortunately it's going to be a process......just like being invaded was a process.

And what you described above will be part of that process as the American people will progressively rid our government of those working against us.

<sigh> It's just going to take a little bit of time, that's all.

NJ has one of the highest taxes in the country. State government is corrupt and the middle class is moving out, while more illegals move in. There is a $30 BILLION shortfall for state employee pensions and the state wants to increase taxes AGAIN!

This past year alone, over 650,000 TAXPAYERS left the state and many more want to follow.

When the middle class is gone, who will support the illegal aliens and the overpaid state employees?

Originally Posted by miguelina

NJ has one of the highest taxes in the country. State government is corrupt and the middle class is moving out, while more illegals move in. There is a $30 BILLION shortfall for state employee pensions and the state wants to increase taxes AGAIN!

This past year alone, over 650,000 TAXPAYERS left the state and many more want to follow.

When the middle class is gone, who will support the illegal aliens and the overpaid state employees?

Is Jersey this bad too?! At first glance, I thought you were writing about Cali.

NJ has over half a million illegal aliens, with more moving in every day. Even though it's not labeled a "sanctuary" state, it is.

My old hometown's population is now over 60% illegal aliens. 40% of the high school students get free lunches. It costs $14k to educate ONE student (state average a little over $11k) and the test scores are DISMAL.

Failing in the No Child Left Behind Act, did not make AYP(Adequate Yearly Progress) for 4 consecutive years and now in corrective action phase.

ALL that money out the window! This is just ONE high school!

Originally Posted by Populist

Originally Posted by miguelina

NJ has one of the highest taxes in the country. State government is corrupt and the middle class is moving out, while more illegals move in. There is a $30 BILLION shortfall for state employee pensions and the state wants to increase taxes AGAIN!

This past year alone, over 650,000 TAXPAYERS left the state and many more want to follow.

When the middle class is gone, who will support the illegal aliens and the overpaid state employees?

Is Jersey this bad too?! At first glance, I thought you were writing about Cali.

Arnold has announced a financial crisis in California and going to take drastic measures in spending. LOL OH ya I believe that. The Dems run the Legislature and all they know how to do is spend money, infringe on individual rights, etc.