Tax Day Reminder: Illegal Aliens Cost Americans Billions Annually

Today, April 15^th, is typically the deadline for Americans to submit their federal income taxes (though the deadline this year is April 18^th because of a quirk in the calendar). Whether you submitted your taxes months ago or are rushing to complete them by Monday’s deadline, FAIR wanted to remind you that illegal immigration costs U.S. taxpayers approximately $100 billion annually. Yes, that’s billion with a “B”… every year! The fiscal burden on Americans breaks down as follows:

• $51 billion in education;
• $18 billion in general government services;
• $17 billion in health care;
• $17 billion in justice and law enforcement; and
• $10 billion in public assistance.

The total cost to U.S. taxpayers will increase significantly if the Supreme Court allows President Obama to implement his executive amnesty programs. Under our federal tax laws, illegal aliens with deferred action (DACA and DAPA) are eligible to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). Outrageously, once eligible for EITC and ACTC, tax law allows a person to amend their tax returns from the past three years to claim the credits—even if that person was ineligible during those years! Between EITC and ACTC, the Congressional Research Service—the nonpartisan policy research arm for lawmakers—confirmed that each amnestied illegal alien is eligible for $35,000 in tax credits. Heritage Foundation’s Robert Rector calculated “cash payments from the EITC and ACTC to DAPA recipients would equal $7.8 billion per year” plus another $23.5 billion in retroactive claims.

As FAIR previously pointed out, the full taxpayer cost of executive amnesty is far greater than is being reported. Specifically, illegal aliens with deferred action are eligible for Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act), unemployment benefits, Social Security, and Medicare. Additionally, certain illegal aliens with deferred action are eligible for Medicaid and SCHIP health care benefits. Rector calculates the “lifetime costs” of Social Security and Medicare benefits to DAPA recipients at $1.3 trillion and Obamacare benefits at $15.5 billion per year.