KEY DOGE FOCUS – ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) has been creating a regular report on the cost of illegal immigration, which report has caught the attention of Elon Musk. When you have an important program with a clear focus, you want to get to the low-hanging fruit first. Supporting illegals with benefits and services is far more costly than most of us assume when you consider federal, state and local investments. It’s certainly a lot higher than when we didn’t do everything for these people.
During the Biden years, immigration was far higher than even the Ellis Island era, where we did almost nothing even for the legal immigrants. We may be a generous, caring country, but we have to focus on our citizens’ well-being first, implementing rational immigration policy that benefits us and doesn’t hurt us. After all, it is our country.
The Numbers
Just in 2023, illegal immigration cost us at least $150.7 billion already adjusted for the taxes they paid which only cover 1/6 of the costs they create. A child of illegals costs us $8,776 annually. Of those illegals who actually work, many pay no taxes at all, working in the underground economy. Others benefit from our tax credit programs. Yet, in 2017, we only paid around $32B to support illegals, which translates to a personal cost of $957 in taxes. It can be difficult to get at the numbers, as Blue states try to hide them from their taxpayers, fearing a revolt.
To break it down further, federal education takes a hit of $6.6BB (perhaps lower if we got rid of the Department of Education.) Federal medical is at $23.1BB, welfare at $11.6BB, etc.
These numbers don’t include the impact to low-wage workers who couldn’t find jobs, veterans and others kicked out of hospitals and housing and other highly personal costs. While a legal immigration program should bring in the best and brightest, filling jobs we can’t get filled with our existing citizenry, illegals generally are not what we badly need to make our country more robust. They are takers, not givers, exploiting our excellent medical care system and colleges, using money that we need for our own. And most don’t speak English, limiting their employability.
Our prisons are full with our own; but sadly, too many gangs have come here, dealing drugs, exploiting children, thieving, harming and killing our citizens too. We certainly don’t need more criminals here.
Biden’s loosey-goosey immigration policies encouraged many more illegals to cross the border, though it can be hard to get at the real numbers. FAIR defines “illegal alien” as anyone who entered the United States without authorization or anyone who unlawfully remains once his/her authorization has expired. But there is no government agency gathering accurate data on these numbers. The last best guess is that there were 15.5MM illegals as 2022 began. The numbers have gone up considerably since then, and should include (but don’t), categories where the status is questionable, such as DACA recipients, parolees and others.
Overhaul Needed
Illegal immigration has become an “attractive nuisance,” which means that the benefits of risking the journey far outweigh the negatives for far too many people. The first step to reducing this burden is not a wall. Instead, we have to reduce the incentives. People aren’t stupid; they go where they benefit the most. Cut the benefits and the numbers will drop without a wall. Note: this doesn’t include the criminal world and a wall wouldn’t fix that. They have tunnels. Instead, the penalties need to be increased. Human trafficking—death penalty. Drug trafficking—incarceration. Gang affiliation—deportation regardless of crimes, gang violence—death penalty. And for everyone coming here illegally, DNA test and fingerprints, with the knowledge that they can NEVER gain legal entry again.
Start at the Federal level, where DOGE operates, but then, allow states the right to operate the same way, taking responsibility for immigration. For the states that wish to continue to be over-generous, let the taxpayers go after them. This is already beginning. In New York, Mayor Eric Adams realizes that 83% of New Yorkers consider illegals a huge problem. He is already working with Tom Homan to fix his problem. However, Illinois, California, Colorado and Massachusetts have no interest in changing their situation. Let the other states bus their illegals to these states, who purport to welcome them.
Some people might come even if they received no help on arrival. These are likely people we want. They plan to work hard and assimilate. For this group, we need a sane plan to bring in those we want who will fill open positions, work without getting welfare and become Americans in their values.
And yet the MSM and the liberal left would try to convince you that the illegal immigrants are paying for themselves and the country is better off. I wish that was true but everyone knows it’s nonsense.