Alma Banuelos, left, with Emilia Hernandez shout slogans during a rally in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday, May 1, 2013. In celebration of May Day thousands have gathered for an immigration reform rally in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)(CNSNews.com) – Granting amnesty to illegal immigrants would cost $6.3 trillion, according to a new report by the Heritage Foundation.
“Unlawful immigration and amnesty for current unlawful immigrants can pose large fiscal costs for U.S. taxpayers,” states the report by Robert Rector and Jason Richwine, Ph.D.
May 6, 2013
By Elizabeth Harrington
CNS News
Not only would the federal deficit increase, but the cost of benefits and services to millions of newly minted citizens would reach nearly $10 trillion.
“Over a lifetime, the former unlawful immigrants together would receive $9.4 trillion in government benefits and services and pay $3.1 trillion in taxes,” the report states.
“They would generate a lifetime fiscal deficit (total benefits minus total taxes) of $6.3 trillion.”
Rector and Richwine took into account direct benefits, such as Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation, as well as means-tested welfare benefits, public education costs and population-based services in reaching their findings.
Heritage President Jim Demint will unveil the new study at a press conference at 11:30 on Monday.
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