FAIR has released their latest report on the costs of illegal aliens to taxpayers. The main costs are in education, health care and prison costs for illegal aliens in jail.
California's nearly 3 million illegal immigrants cost taxpayers nearly $9 billion each year, according to a new report released last week by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a Washington, D.C.-based group that promotes stricter immigration policies.
Educating the children of illegal immigrants is the largest cost, estimated at $7.7 billion each year, according to the report. Medical care for illegal immigrants and incarceration of those who have committed crimes are the next two largest expenses measured in the study, the author said.
...
Jack Martin, who wrote the report, said Thursday that the $9 billion figure does not include other expenses that are difficult to measure, such as special English instruction, school lunch programs, and welfare benefits for American workers displaced by illegal immigrant workers.
"It's a bottom of the range number," Martin said.
FAIR drew from the U.S. Census report and other sources. This study matches an earlier study By the Center for Immigration Reform (CIS) that I reported on (see: "Latest Report: Illegal Aliens Cost Taxpayers $10 Billion A Year" from Sep. 4, 2004). Of course you can't do any straight reporting on this issue without having some pro illegal alien advocate group playing the race card once again to justify the illegal behavior of these people who suck dry our tax system and run emergency rooms into bankruptcy.
Gerardo Gonzalez, director of Cal State San Marcos' National Latino Research Center, which compiles data on Latinos, criticized the report. He said it does not measure some of the contributions that immigrants make to the state's economy.
"Beyond taxes, these workers' production and spending contribute to California's economy, especially the agricultural sector," Gonzalez said.
Immigrants, both legal and illegal, are the backbone of the state's nearly $28 billion-a-year agricultural industry, Gonzalez and other researchers say.
More than two-thirds of the estimated 340,000 agriculture workers in California are noncitizens, most of whom are believed to be illegal immigrants, according to a 1998 study on farmworkers prepared for the state Legislature.
Local farmers say migrant farmworkers are critical to their businesses, and without them they would have to close their farms or move their operations overseas.
These advocate groups really don't have a leg to stand on. The only arguments they ever try to use is racism or that all these fact based reports are wrong and that the production of these illegal aliens is higher than if a legal worker earning a decent wage and didn't require all the tax sucking benefits.
Martin disagrees. He said illegal immigrants displace American workers by taking low-skilled jobs, keep wages low by creating an overabundance of workers and stifle innovation by reducing the need for mechanized labor.
"The product of the illegal immigrant is not included (in the report) because if that is an essential product it will get done one way or another," Martin said. Employers "would have to pay better wages or invest money on mechanization."
Martin's study looks specifically at the costs of educating illegal immigrants' children, providing medical care to illegal immigrants and jailing those convicted of committing crimes. The report estimates the total cost at $10.5 billion each year, but that is offset by about $1.7 billion in taxes that illegal immigrants pay.
OK, sounds pretty backed up by facts. Sounds reasonable. So what could the advocates for illegal aliens possibly say about this report and its facts?
"I think FAIR is without doubt an extremist organization that tries to portray itself as a mainstream group," said Christian Ramirez, director of the San Diego office of the American Friends Service Committee, an advocate group for legal and illegal immigrants.
Good rebuttal there by a representative for illegal aliens.
The article goes on to break down the numbers in the report further. Go read it for specific numbers. One that stands out though is the estimated $7.7 billion in education spending for illegal alien children. Having kid in Californian schools I can attest to the huge class sizes, low student-to-teacher interaction and the extraordinary amount of time wasted on those students who can't speak English fluently enough. So while the dollar number is $7.7 billion, the overall costs to actual legal citizens of this country's children who pay for these schools is immeasurable.
Martin said states bear most of the cost of illegal immigration.
"State costs are much higher on a per capita basis because of the fact that the largest expenses are medical care and education and those are borne at the local level, not the federal," Martin said.
In this time of California's budget crisis this should be priority one in reducing expenses in the state.
Tipped by: La Shawn Barber. Go read her take on the report and some of the comments at her entry.
If you are looking for help with debt consolidation, look no further. Sign online today and learn how we can help you with your mortgage loans, car loans, and personal loans! Balancing your finances is hard; obtaining a personal loan shouldn't be!
Yep, I could have told you that [non-English-speaking] illegal aliens in the classroom are a drain on educational resources. I was a middle school teacher in central California (ground-zero for the illegal alien invasion) for two years. I had several students who couldn't speak English, and the cost to our district to provide translators and special curriculum and materials in Spanish must have been through the roof.
But, of course, we can't deny them the right to be be educated at taxpayers' expense, now can we? That would be unconstitutional (according to illegal alien lovers around the country).
The issue of illegal aliens is my hot button topic. If you check out my blog, you'd see that I'm just as passionate about this as you are. It comforts me to know that there are other people out there who are also passionate about deporting illegal aliens and denying all public and social services to them, especially when those services are paid for by the hardworking, legally-residing (that means legal residents and citizens) taxpayers of California and the U.S.
Posted by: Doggy Diaries at
December 8, 2004 09:17 AM
I am forced to think hard as to your level of education... Do you know that most undocumented 'illegal' immigrants actually PAY TAXES? not only that, the vast majority of them do NOT REQUEST A TAX REFUND, therefore many of 'them illegals' may be actually paying for YOUR KIDS' EDUCATION and your medical care. Let's not forget that this country would go STALE if we would go on and deport 'illegal immigrants, but let's assume we want to do it, then i suggest imposing not only fines, but criminal penalties on employers, who, lats time I checked are the ones making the buck and getting the tax cuts under this hick RED government. Please note that I used the word 'RED' to trigger your idiotic under-educated fears of communism and relate it to your favorite party (I know most of you are ignorant Republican -hence the donkey- beasts, that don't understant that the Republican plan only works for the VERY rich). Go to school again, but this time PAY ATTENTION!! You are not inherently intelligent because your mommy and daddy were Irish, German, British or Dutch: ooops! I guess MOST OF OUR FAMILIES were at one time or another IMMIGRANTS. By the way, have you heard the accent of an elementary school Potato famine victim 150 years ago? that would be pretty hard to understand.
Posted by: Ruben at
July 4, 2005 10:58 AM
In regard to prosecuting employers, if a law were made making it illegal to hire illegal aliens, then employers that hired illegals in the past could not be prosecuted due ex post facto, which is a constitutional provision. If you don't know what that is...google it. By the way, yes we have immigrant relations, however the wording you used was immigrant, not illegal immigrant as I recall. If you read the article it also mentioned that illegals paid some taxes, but that did not even near what they owed and were taking away. Many of the illegals do not claim this country as their own and claim to be mexicans, which is acceptable, however, they want the right to vote, which is not acceptable. By the way do you know how many mexicans in general serve in the military? 10%...that is, Hispanics, so maybe 3\4 are mexican lets say, how many are illegal do you think. Probably two or three, if that. If they want to be involved in our politics, they can help us out with the war since there are so many of them.
Posted by: desert_rat at
November 13, 2006 08:16 PM
"In regard to prosecuting employers, if a law were made making it illegal to hire illegal aliens, then employers that hired illegals in the past could not be prosecuted due ex post facto,which is a constitutional provision.
There's already laws on the books they just aren't being enforced.
I think all of of your comments are said to bennifit the illeagl immigrants not our economy. what are we gunna do when their is 50million illegal immigrants, lying about social security numbers, screwing the goverment one at a time.
Posted by: Joe Wicker at
December 3, 2007 04:59 PM
It should be illegal for politicians who are pretending to serve the American public that do not enact legislation that would stop the waste of billions of hard working taxpayers dollars every year on schooling non-American citizens. We should take the money from lawmakers pay checks to pay for every illegal who receives an education in the Untied States. If politicians had to pay out of their families pockets for people who are draining our country of money and resources we don't have to give, things would change. Politicians that don't show they care about the people who pay their salaries should forfeit their pay as penalty for failing to serve and protect Americans instead of cutting off the money we spend on illegal immigration every year. Guaranteed the problem would be solved within one session of congress. They can get together to enact a economic stimulus package so quickly,then they can make laws to stop illegals from receiving education, jobs, medical and housing benefits reserved for true taxpaying American families.
Posted by: J Jackson at
February 3, 2008 01:11 AM
The Governor of California says that the State of California is running out of money. Could it be because the State of California is spending BILLIONS OF DOLLARS supporting MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS within the State of California every year? You make the call.
Posted by: John Galvin at
August 1, 2008 03:01 PM
Could it be because the State of California is spending BILLIONS OF DOLLARS supporting MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS within the State of California every year?
Yes. Actually I would turn your words around into a statement:
The State of California is spending BILLIONS OF DOLLARS supporting MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS within the State of California every year that is why the State of California is running out of money.
all you ignorant rebulicans who are posting comments about deporting illegal aliens are a bunch of mis-informed fools who apperently dont know anything about this issue but yet have the courage to comment about it, so here the facts :
first of all anybody who works in the US both legal citizens and illegal aliens pay taxes and yes illegal aliens pay taxes too just like every other worker in this country but unlike legal citizens they dont receive a refund check so they pay taxes and dont get anything in return so now that u now this, illegal aliens as you call them are actually paying for your children's education and helping the economy of this country !!!
Posted by: monica at
August 12, 2008 12:30 AM
illegal immigrants only pay taxes when they purchase goods. it is ignorant to say that someone who is in this country illegally and thus has no green card or social security number files a tax return. it simply isn't true. if it were, the IRS would just send that list with names and addresses of all the illegals to the INS, and we'd be all set. on the other hand - because they are mostly lower class, under educated people, illegals pay a good share of taxes because they consume a large amount of high tax items: lottery tickets, alcohol, cigarettes and junk food - all of which are highly taxed here in CA. question is - does it make up for all the costs they bring in terms of crime, health care costs and education costs? i would say on education, it's probably a draw, but on the other issues - i'd bet we pay more for them then they contribute back to us. more important to me is the speaking of english - in the classroom or otherwise. yes, we all have immigrants in our family tree, but not one of them demanded that they maintain their home language. if you want to live in the US and be a US citizen, then the first way you can prove this to me is by speaking the language. go try to move to france and refuse to speak french. see how well that goes over, illegal or not. we have got to quit coddling every group that comes here in the name of political correctness because - simply put - it is NOT politically correct to be a parasite on another country and not even have the decency to learn the language.
Posted by: caligirl at
September 28, 2008 02:16 PM
you might say, illegals do "pay" taxes when they buy things at the store. but you fail to mention that its sales tax not income tax or anything else which legal citizens have to pay by April 15th. Apparently, as a 15 year old thats writing this, has more knowledge than some people who commented on this article. Also, Im not either a Republican and Democrat. Why should that even matter. Its not even relevant to the argument.
Posted by: MaddAmerican2008 at
November 2, 2008 08:51 PM
Regarding a comment:
"I am forced to think hard as to your level of education... Do you know that most undocumented 'illegal' immigrants actually PAY TAXES? not only that, the vast majority of them do NOT REQUEST A TAX REFUND, therefore many of 'them illegals' may be actually paying for YOUR KIDS' EDUCATION and your medical care. "
Geez, no bias there. False! Property taxes pay most of the cost of education. You can't POSSIBLY compare a few hundred dollars in unclaimed taxes vs $8,000.00 and up in property taxes for many of us. Your argument is absurd. Please, please, educate yourself on the numbers before you share another post like that again. I PAY FOR MY KIDS EDUCATION AND
%14 NON ENGLISH SPEAKING CHILDREN () WHO DON'T PAY NEARLY WHAT I PAY.
Posted by: Mike at
November 6, 2008 03:04 PM
The person who said illegals pay taxes obviously doesn't realize that most of them are paid CASH.
Posted by: catfox8 at
January 14, 2009 07:43 PM
If this great country of ours just enforced the laws which we have, we would not be in this mess. Regardless how anyone sees illegal immigration on either sides, illegal is still illegal and this country can not continue to sustain the situation it is in. Yes, illegals do pay some taxes in some sense, but yet the American people shouldn't have to pay for it. Let the illegals for the illegals, then we will see how they will suffer without the help of the American people.
Posted by: Mr.Sanctus at
February 19, 2009 09:00 PM
Regarding Comment:
Geez, no bias there. False! Property taxes pay most
of the cost of education. You can't POSSIBLY compare a few hundred dollars in unclaimed taxes vs $8,000.00 and up in property taxes for many of us. Your argument is absurd. Please, please, educate yourself on the numbers before you share another post like that again. I PAY FOR MY KIDS EDUCATION AND
%14 NON ENGLISH SPEAKING CHILDREN () WHO DON'T PAY NEARLY WHAT I PAY.
Aviously you haven't been exposed lower-middle-class america enough.First of all,the majority of "head of house holds" grossing $33,000 or less with at least 2 dependents normally pocket any where bweeten $2,500 and $5,500 per year( most illegal immigrats would fall within that bracket but ohh yeah illegals are not allowed to file returns.)so multiply that times 2o million(number of illegals in USA.) Second of all, did you know that out off our 305,000,000 population kids between the ages of 0-19 and senior citizens ages 70-85 account for an stimated 130,000,000 of our general population.. wich only tells me that we actually have more AMERICAN CITIZENS not putting in to the bottom line than the Illegal Immigrant community...Third of all, When was the last time you saw an illegal emmigrant receving Social Security benefits, welfare, unemployment allowance, housing assistance or even food stamps. The only programs illegals qualify for is The W.I.C program and public education....health care via E.R only.ohh and about the $8,000 annual property tax you pay,,,thats a personal choice...you get what you pay for...i dont think people in the getto pay that much on property tax..
Posted by: deserteagle at
April 9, 2009 06:09 PM
ummm... this is a very hot issue... i myself am an illegal immigrant. now, i no what i can have and not have. i cannot drive in california cuz the state does not permit me. california is the only state that high school students do not pay out-of-state fees in colleges. thats alot of money for schools that have illegal immigrants. also, i work and go to school at the same time. i work in the agricultural labor. i have yet to see a guero work next to me... i understand that i have broken the law... however i was a child when i came here. also about the non-english students... i learned english in one year... i graduated 4th in my senior class and was accepted into princeton and stanford both with a full ride scholarship. i did not go because i did not hav a social security number. so, for all of you that are against illegal immigrantion let me ask you this question, not having legal documents should stop a students from accomplishing their dreams... because you never no... i can discover the cure for cancer. if i do come and talk to me because illegal immigrants are people just like you and me... we have bones and organs and brains... we just like you legal residents and citizen can die...
Posted by: Beaner at
May 6, 2009 08:18 PM
Regarding comment:
"If I do come and talk to me because illegal immigrants are people just like you and me.. we have bones and organs and brains... we just like you legal residents and citizen can die..."
Umm, what does having bones and organs and brains have anything to do with being in a country illegally. And of course you can die too. We are not saying you are not human. For someone who was accepted to Princeton and Stanford, you're not very intelligent. Regardless of all the money people like Beaner are costing the US, illegal is illegal. That is why they are all called "ILLEGAL" immigrants. My question is if these people want to come to the US and live here and be a citizen, then why don't they learn English instead of demanding that we learn English and why don't they follow the laws of this country. Most Americans respect the laws while raising their children to do the same, yet they're aware of millions in the country who violate not only immigration laws but virtually every law that exists. Just by being in this country, they are breaking all the laws in my opinion.
But if we just happened to open our eyes, maybe we would all realize that if we were to have closed our borders only two decades ago we wouldn't have such a large nationwide debt:
$397,460,016,700- cost of social services for illegal immigrants
since 1996.
$14,230,126,000- cost of illegals in K-12 since 1996
And these numbers are rising every second. So all I have to say to people like "Beaner" is stop breaking the law and get out of this country!!!!! And screw being politically correct, especially when it is costing us this much.
Posted by: clementine at
June 7, 2009 07:19 PM
why not put some of the cost of illegals on their country of origin ie.mexico from my understanding they not only do little to prevent the illegal crossings, they hand out flyers and maps to help them get across. maybe we should adopt mexican immigration policy ....google it.
Posted by: dean at
June 8, 2009 08:22 PM
To the people who point their fingers at us, illegal aliens, let me tell you one thing:
You aren't one bit close to know the reasons and circumstances that lead a family to flee to another country. It is soooo easy to judge from your position; living the "American Dream", by natural right of course, not knowing what life in a third or second world country is like. Do you seriously think we were marveled by the idea of leaving our friends, relatives and lives behind? Of course not. But did we have another option? Perhaps yes, but let me tell you, most of us tried those options. For example, millions of Mexicans go through the process of application for a VISA (which allows us to come to the U.S. legally). Guess what, only the very lucky and fortunate get them. The process is considerably pricey and the requirements, in most cases, really hard to meet. In conclusion, you have to be middle upper class to even think of applying. Well, most Mexicans don't qualify! To top that off, life in Mexico is a life of extreme violence, drug cartel threats, injustice, incredible government failure to help its citizens, etc, etc, etc. I could go on and on about the countless reasons we had to migrate to this country illegally.
Yes, we cost you so much money annually.
However keep in mind that we also do all the "dirty" work for you. I'd really love to see YOU doing the work WE do. Or did you forget who cleans your buildings, harvests your fruits and vegetables, builds your beloved Starbucks and overall, supports YOUR American way of living, while you pay our minimum wage jobs.
I understand where you're coming from and why you're upset, but you seriously don't understand why we're here and what lead us to such sacrifice, simply to give our children a better education, a better standard of living, even we have to mow lawns to be able to afford it.
In addition, just because we're in the country illegally does not mean we don't pay taxes. We are perfectly able to do so and so we do! So that end is covered, meaning that just like you, American citizen, we also file tax reports like anyone residing in the U.S. should, therefore paying for the social services we are offered. I bet you have no problem with that though.
With all due respect, your comments and prejudices toward illegal aliens often come to be very un-American.
P.S. And no, the Mexican government does not hand out maps and fliers to help us get across the border. Get your information straight.