How much does the US lose economically to illegal immigration?

Question

I really want some solid informative awnesers, I understand only estimates will probably be availabe. What I don't want is some speculation from a racist who only hates illegals because they are hispanic, and not because what they do to the economy.

It seems that illegals really contribute to agriculture, after all, every country needs workers and I doubt an english speaking american with a high school degree will want to work in the fields for minimum wage, but im not so sure about other aspects of the US economy.

What benefits is an illegal immigrant in the United States benefiting from without giving back is basically what I want to know.

Ok, please dont bash on illegal immigrants having their morals wrong, all types of people kill, steal, murder and rape. The illegal immigrants I know of are actually very nice and are my family, they would not hurt a fly.

i know i knoooooow, not all illegals are from south america, but you have to realize that most are and some people go against illegal immigration just because they are hispanic, never said you were one of those people. I was just trying to disprove awnesrs from those guys

Answer 1

Looking on the Internet, I've seen studies claiming a net benefit to the U.S. and a net loss. This isn't one of those questions that can be settled, once and for all. The ideology of the person doing the research seems to make a huge difference.

Answer 2

The latest figures I've seen is that at the Federal Level, there is a gain of between 5-10 billion. At the local levels, the losses are substantial in the need for raising taxes to support expanding schools and providing social services. I've seen estimates in the 100-200 billion range. Under no circumstance are they a net gain to the economy and only uneducated morons would make such a statement.

Answer 3

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR! California alone spends $10 billion each year. Even if you took into account the lower wages that lead to lower costs, the outflow is enormous!

The Heritage Foundation stated that for each illegal family it costs taxpayers over $22,000 each year. This includes the payment of sales tax & property tax through rent.

I thought their estimate was low since they included the payment of income taxes. Since the illegals DON'T pay taxes this credit against the services they get seemed wrong.

The illegals get free health care, free education for their kids & welfare for their anchor baby kids. Some states give them in-state tuition (soldiers don't get this when they return from Iraq!)

Anybody that says that they do the work Americans won't do is a liar. It's true they won't work for $5/hour but that is illegal.

People that say produce will dramatically increase without the illegals is ignorant and trying to scare people. The $5 head of lettuce is a myth since labor is only a tiny portion of the costs.

BTW, Hispanic or Mexican is not a race. Illegal immigration is not a racist issue. I am just as angry at the Canadian illegal as I am at the Mexican illegal. Both are criminals for breaking the law.

Because taxpayers are shelling out billions each year, services to citizens goes down and taxes go up. This is NOT a victimless crime that the 20 to 30 million illegals are committing!

Answer 4

If the US is losing economically on illegal immigrants. the country could have been the poorest country in the world. It may have subdivided into many separate countries with never ending pockets of war in its borders.

On the contrary, the US is thriving on illegal immigrants. Dirty jobs taht are shunned by the Americans had the illegals doing for it and it was good for business. And it's the reason why there are those who batted for its legalization.

Answer 5

Most estimates I have seen actually indicate that the economy has greater throughput, and higher profits WITH illegal immigrants, and that removing illegal immigrants will reduce the health of the economy.

Basically, the issue is whether the money paid to and spent by millions of illegal aliens is better for the economy than the theft of social services committed by thousands of illegal aliens.

And according to most statistics -- most illegal immigrants either pay taxes or want to pay taxes.

Answer 6

This is not a racist issue. Hispanics are not the only illegal immigrants. This is a tactic used by the left to accuse the right of being hatemongers.

The economic aspect is irrelevant. They are ILLEGALLY here.

Here is a number for you:

---Households headed by illegal aliens imposed more than -$26.3 billion in costs on the federal government in 2002 and paid only $16 billion in taxes, creating a net fiscal deficit of almost $10.4 billion, or $2,700 per illegal household.

Answer 7

Estimates vary. To put in in perspective however, reports have yielded statistics which I have seen as high as 40% of the household income in Mexico is attributed to money which has been mailed, transferred or wired from the United States.

Answer 8

they contribute less then they take is my stand point and that includes schools hospitals health care in general i dont have any links of stats to show you but im sure you can see the results if you live in any border state in the nation

Answer 9

well steve, we all know that the US loses more billions of US$ economically, let alone americans to the war in Iraq compared to the illegal immigration

Answer 10

they don't contribute crap to agriculture. they are being paid. It costs the US about 80 billion a year to support the illegals. That does not count what is lost in identity theft, and what they send back to Mexico and don't pay taxes for.