The High Cost of Illegal Immigration

Learn more about the cost of illegal immigration at: http://www.fairus.org/publications/th...

Illegal immigration costs the U.S. over $100 billion dollars a year. This video from the Federation for American Immigration Reform lays out the reasons why illegal immigration costs Americans billions in taxes.

Illegal immigration is not only a burden on our environment and our population but also our wallets, especially in tough economic times. An additional financial burden is difficult to handle. The annual cost of illegal immigration is estimated at $113 Billion to our nation's taxpayers. A proposal to allow illegal aliens permanent access to US jobs makes no sense when you recognize that this would keep many current U.S. Citizens from getting jobs.

Not only can illegal immigration limit US workers job opportunities but it can affect their income as well. Illegal immigrants are often paid less than their legal counterparts, leading not only to exploitation, but a lowering of wages and working conditions for everyone. Households headed by illegal aliens imposed more than $28.8 Billion in costs on the federal government in 2009 and paid only $9.5 Billion in Taxes (A deficit of $19.3 Billion).

Many companies that hire only legal workers are forced to compete with companies that undercut prices by hiring illegal workers, threatening to force the responsible company out of business. One of the things which makes this country great is how much we provide for the people who reside here. Even individuals who are here illegally benefit from our tax dollars. Expenditures like educating children, medical care, administration of justice, child care, temporary assistance to needy families, and school meal programs all end up benefiting illegal aliens.

Some disregard these costs, they want to provide legal status to illegal immigrants through an amnesty. What they fail to realize is that this would perpetuate the burden of illegal migration. Instead, policy makers must send a clear message abroad and to illegal aliens here that they will not tolerate illegal migration. This will not only improve national security, but also attack a major fiscal burden. It will provide greater opportunities to today's unemployed and underemployed citizens and legal residents.