When someone says illegal immigrants cost us lots of money, what costs are they using?

Question

I know they include healthcare costs and enforcement costs. What else is included? Also, are these costs net of any benefits that we derive from their work (like the proverbial cheaper tomatoes, etc) or do we just accept the numbers at face value?

David P: Please do go on...and answer the rest of my question.

Everyone's done real great on the first part of the question. Will anyone go on to address the rest of my question?

Nice job sociald, but what about the benefit to our economy when they spend money at Walmart, etc? How come that's not factored in?

Answer 1

Ok allow me to be real clear on this:
1. Illegal Immigrants CAN NOT recieve welfare benefits, however, if they have a child born inside the US (citizen) that child can recieve benefits. But the illegal parents NO.

2. Illegal immigrants currently do recieve medical care, (hospital emergency care) and if they dont pay the bill tax payers do. (However, American citizens do this too)

3. Education: Currently there is no law in place that allows schools to check social security numbers (legal status) prior to admitance, which does cost the tax payers.

HOWEVER~
1. Building a fence will cost millions plus it will not work. It is a waste of time and money because think about it, if a raging river that takes many lives a year, and a hot dessert which also takes many lives a year wont stop them, a fence wont either.

2. Deportation costs millions and is of no use, they leave visit their families for a few weeks then come back.

3. Jailing them cost tax payers money.

WE ALL are costing this country unnessisary money. There is no easy fix to solving the immigration debate. Something has to be done, but will something happen soon? I dont know, will it work, not likely. It didnt in 1986.

They DO contribute to our economy though. I dont know the stats so I wont guess, but I dont know if the cost out weighs the contribution or not. However I do know that as an American, I am NOT willing to pick a bushel of tomatos in the hot sun for 5 cents. And I feel safe saying I dont know anyone else (citizen) who would. The cheap labor is a contribution to us Americans because we have cheaper prices, and lets face it, with min. wage as it is vs. gas prices we need the cheap produce.

Illegals who are paid by employers with checks, DO pay taxes on their wages. The difference is they have no SS# so do not recieve a re-fund. That is a contribution to us.

Answer 2

I will pay more for the cost of food. Is your idea that if some 1 breaks into your house steals your ID & SS# breaks all the laws we have you ask them to stay an pay all they costs. It's a federal crime 2 enter this country illegally what part of illegal are you have a problem with. Close the borders & No amnesty. Enforce the laws we have.Then they will leave or we will help them.This is America not a third world country.If it was tomatoe cost only than the cost of a tomatoe is about $75.00 to have them pick 1. For what they cost us tax payers in there free bees an social costs. So much for cheap??

Answer 3

Try this. http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html

It is a study only up till 2002 so im sure the numbers are greater now with more illegals in the USA now than 5 years ago.
but social programs and services use compared to how much taxes were paid left the USA in a more than 10 billion dollar deficit for just that year.
Also further down on the page there is a simulation in which its a what if that illegal household were made legal. its shows they would pay more taxes but then have access to much more social programs and the deficit would be almost 3 times as much.

Answer 4

Looking at the responses so far, I don't see education mentioned. Educating their children costs a lot of money, and in some places, has overburdened the public schools. Also, there's the money they earn here and send back to their country of origin, which is thus taken out of circulation here.

Lou Dobbs gave the number $22,000 net lost per illegal alien. But I don't think he includes the effect they have on the job market, the housing market, and other areas where they impact supply and/or demand. Jobs would be more available, and housing cheaper, if these people weren't here. But like Lou has said, you'd have to spend 17 cents more for a head of lettuce...

Answer 5

Welfare
Food Stamps
Emergency Room visits
Medicaid
Section 8 Housing
Over crowded prisons

All of the above are paid by us, the tax payers to be given for free to everyone else.

As for tomatoes, where I live the veggies come from South America, so I don't think it applies here.

Answer 6

--Healthcare costs in border cities that have been unpaid have caused over 64 small hospitals to close via bankruptcy. They now are no longer there for legal citizens.
--Cost for schooling the children of illegals in Texas for only 2005 added 5 million cost to taxpayers. This does not include the breakfast and lunch program that they get for "free".
--All possible forms of welfare. Even though it is illegal they do obtain fraudulent papers to show they are citizens when they apply for benefits.
--Costs of the number we pay for in prisons.
--Costs to US citizens of imported gang warfare.
--Costs of 3rd world diseases brought into US
--Costs of rising insurance prices on autos
--Costs of US taxpayers paying the bill when illegals fraudulently obtain home mortgage loans and then default
--Costs of the IRS taxes that are NOT being paid (even though some DO pay those)
--Costs of loss of US under the "rule of law"
--Cost of illegals sending over 24 Billion out of US in 2005
--Costs of sickness in restaurants due to food handlers having diseases
--Costs of many citizens being squeezed out of construction industry as illegals work for much less
--Costs of health hazards when 10 to 20 illegals live in a place big enough for 4 or 5.

Benefits......People say illegal labor cuts costs. No, it only cuts some costs for some employers. But they do NOT pass it on to consumers so individual citizens do not get a cost break.

Answer 7

Sure looks like another piece of "American Pie" tossed to cucarachas.....Giving $$ to parents of non English speaking children to speak English at home & to teach their own children to use English?!...What other invitations to ILLEGALS will California come up with??..Such idiocy is unmatched in U.S. history..Now you know why ILLEGALS are flocking to U.S./California-like flies on Sh!t.

Answer 8

http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/jimr/7671

But the most expensive thing, and hardest to keep up with the stream of incoming on is the schools.

And if they are legalized, they will cost much more.

And no, they send the tiny slice they create back to their country.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20070524-104520-5637r.htm

The failing schools for our own children is my biggest problem. WE need protection, not them.

Answer 9

Medical, welfare, lower wages, lower education standards, over crowded schools, higher insurance rates, need I go on...

Answer 10

plus, a zillion other things not mentioned - they consume more than they pay in taxes on EVERYTHING!


roads, fire protection, disease control, resource consumption etc