The Economics of Immigration Enforcement
by Edwin S. Rubinstein
Research from
The National Policy Institute
All NPI publications can be found at:
http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/publications
December 2005: Issue Number 101
Synopsis
In July 2005, the Center for American Progress published a report assessing the costs of arresting, detaining, prosecuting, and deporting illegal aliens. The study, Deporting the Undocumented: A Cost Assessment, estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion over five years or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period. The following paper reviews the data on mass deportation. In reassessing the cost, the following analysis compares and contrasts what an amnesty would cost taxpayers in terms of social services, lost wages, health care subsidies, and educational expenditures. The author concludes that comparative estimates demonstrate “no matter how high the costs of deporting illegal aliens may seem, the costs of not deporting them are larger still.”
Excerpt:
A July 2005 study questions whether deporting illegal immigrants would be worth the costs. Deporting the Undocumented: A Cost Assessment is published by the Center for American Progress, a liberal think-tank. Its authors claim the study is the first-ever estimate of costs associated with arresting, detaining, prosecuting, and removing immigrants who have entered the United States illegally or overstayed their visas.
The cost of mass deportation?: $206 to $230 billion over five-years, depending on how many illegals leave voluntarily. That’s an average cost of $41 billion to $46 billion per year for five years. About 10 million illegals would be subject to deportation, according to the study.
Advocates for tougher immigration laws say the estimates are too high. Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies argues, for example, that as many as 50 percent of illegals would leave voluntarily if the government were to initiate an aggressive deportation policy. By contrast, the study assumes only 10 to 20 percent would leave voluntarily.
Rep. Tom Tancredo (R.–CO) called the study “an interesting intellectual exercise” that is “useless…because no one’s talking about” mass deportation. Rather than deport individuals he would impose fines and impose sanctions on employers who employ illegals—something the government has stubbornly refused to do.
We believe that neither the pro- nor the anti-immigration groups are asking the right questions. Neither side has assessed the costs of maintaining the status quo, i.e., the annual costs of an immigration policy that refuses to either stem the influx of illegal aliens or deport illegals already here.
Illegal aliens are poorer than natives. They are eligible for welfare, medical assistance, and housing subsidies. Like all people, they enroll their children in school, drive on roads, and require police, fire, and sanitation services. They are also more likely to be incarcerated.
They also pay taxes. Even when working “off the books” illegal immigrants can’t avoid paying excise, sales and other taxes. So the fact that they receive public benefits does not necessarily mean they are a net drain.
Unfortunately, every study of the fiscal impact of immigration finds that the public expenditures attributable to illegal immigrants exceed their tax payments by a wide margin.
In addition there are indirect economic costs. Illegal immigrants reduce the incomes and employment opportunities of U.S.-born workers. Since the 1986 amnesty illegal aliens have become the largest contributor to U.S. labor force growth. Immigrant inflows—about one-third to one-half of which are comprised of illegal immigrants—accounted for almost half of U.S. labor force growth in recent years, and even more in certain areas and industries.
About 15 percent of U.S. workers were foreign born in 2004, up from 10 percent in 1990. Exactly how much of a reduction this has had on incomes of U.S. born workers cannot be known with certainty. A study by Harvard University Professor George Borjas concludes, however, that every 10 percent increase in the
U.S. labor force due to immigration reduces wages of native workers by about 3.5 percent. If Borjas is right, the income lost by displaced native born workers is enormous and growing rapidly.
In this paper we will show that, no matter how high the costs of deporting illegal aliens may seem, the costs of not deporting them are larger still.
Illegals Hurt Government Finances
Illegal aliens receive more than $26.3 billion in federal services while paying only $16 billion in federal taxes, creating a net fiscal deficit of about $10.3 billion. The figures for 2002 are from a report published by the Center for Immigration Studies in 2004. These are conservative estimates…
27 Comments on “The Economics of Immigration Enforcement”
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Thank you for making this available to the American Public!
Many blessings,
Lorrie Reckamp
Give the American people access to busses!! And we will be more than glad to load ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS up and give them a FREE RIDE BACK TO THEIR IMMORAL COUNTRY !!!!!!!!!
THE EXERCISE WAS WASTED MONEY SINCE THERE WILL NOT BE FORCED DEPORTATION…….ATTRITION THROUGH ENFORCEMENT IS THE HUMANE WAY TO GET ILLEGAL ALIENS TO SELF DEPORT……..
REMOVE THE JOBS (THROUGH E-VERIFY) AND REMOVE ALL BENEFITS IN STATES OTHER THAN THE MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL ONES BY THE FEDS……
FOLKS, WITHOUT WELFARE AND WITHOUT JOBS………THE ILLEGALS WILL SELF DEPORT……THE ONES LEFT HERE WILL BE CRIMINALS…….A PRETTY SIZEABLE NUMBER……
IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T NOTICED 12 STATES HAVE PASSED LAWS TO KEEP ILLEGAL ALIENS FROM BEING EMPLOYED……….ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE LEAVING THOSE STATES AND HEADING OUT OF THE COUNTRY OR TO A STATE WHERE THERE ARE NOT STRICT STATE IMMIGRATION CONTROL LAWS……..SURELY THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOR……WHEN THEY START GETTING HUNGRY THEY WILL LEAVE…….
NONE COME HERE BECAUSE OF OUR COUNTRY…….THESE SEMI ILLITERATE COME HERE FOR THE DOLLAR……AND WELFARE……..THAT’S IT……
I am against illegal immigrants coming in and stealing our jobs. Why can’t they stay in their own country and commit crimes there? They are 1) Stealing our jobs 2) Raising our taxes 3) Committing crimes. They have no reason for residing here and they need to be deported now. Legal immigrants, however, are fine, as long as they do not steal my jobs. I think we should prosecute low-wage employers, then without jobs, they will self-deport. But it won’t be that easy, and it will cost money.
ALL OF US KNOW THAT NOTHING WILL CHANGE BECAUSE THE POLITICIANS WILL NOT ALLOW IT, THEY ARE GETTING THE VOTES THEY NEED TO STAY IN OFFICE. AFTER ALL, THEY ARE THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY FOR ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN; WE CANNOT BLAME THE ILLEGAL ALIENS; WOULDN’T YOU LIKE IT IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO PAY FOR GROCERIES, MEDICAL EXPENSES OR EDUCATION AND ALL OF YOUR INCOME COULD BE SPENT ON YOUR DESIRES!!!!
Illega aliens are enimies of the USA they should get nothing from the goverment. The goverment is foolish to help these evil wicked animals I cant understand what has happened to our country.Every true American should to all they can to stop these illegal aliens.WAKE UP AMERICA AND SEE THE TRUTH AND TAKE ACTION
We have become a dumping ground for third world trash. When will it happen?, that all whites must cast their eye’s to the ground when meeting a black or any other minority less that black or minority should be offended.
I am amazed that only five comments have been recorded on such an important subject, it shows that American citizens care less about the illegal immigration issue than our leaders in government, America was founded and built on laws that define clearly what is right and wrong legal and illegal for all the citizens and legal residence of the United States of America.
When a visitor receives a visa to the US the immigration department must have on record how long they will be staying in the country and where they will be residing, their information is on file and our government needs to keep track of who left the country on time and who is overstaying their visa, with the supposed smart technology that we have the immigration department can simply keep track of lawbreakers that overstay their visa with the airlines on who is coming and who is leaving, it wouldn’t cost billions of dollars to maintain such an information network between the agencies and enforce the law, if you overstay your visit you should be fined then sent back to your country of origin, this system can generate hundreds of millions of dollars from people who overstay their visa, a database can be created to monitor anyone that comes back to the US illegally and when someone is picked up a second time their penalty should be much greater than the fine they paid for their first offense.
Illegals climbing walls fences or walking into the US through the porous desert region could be dealt with the same way, we are a humane society that helps people all over the world but that doesn’t mean we should reward illegal immigrants that pour into our country with social services in our schools hospitals welfare housing and so much more, the governments in their native countries fail to help these people in the simplest way, disingagement by their governments pushes them out their revolving door right on America’s doorstep where they become our problem, the taxpayers of this great country.
Let me ask a simple question, if we didn’t have a law that penalized a thief or a murderer, what would our country be like ? we would have people stealing and killing each other, same thing with our borders and illegal immigrants, as long as their is no federal law to deal with the illegal immigrants in a firm way they will continue to pour into the country unabated, once our government takes a uniform stand against illegals our problems will continue to multiply, I understand not all illegals are not bad people, that doesn’t matter, they entered this country illegally and they must either leave voluntarily or sooner than later a law will be passed that will rid this country of all the illegals.
Illegals are raping our woman and children, stealing from all of us, and killing our innocent brothers sisters mothers and fathers.
We the American people elected our leaders in the house and senate to pass laws that serve and protect us the American people, not the special interest lobby, not special interest groups and organizations, not the interests of some corporate clients that want cheap labor while at the same time these corporate clients are shipping jobs overseas, their greed has been detrimental to America the labor force and America’s wellbeing.
Special interest groups organizations with their lobby must be silenced so America can get back to doing what is good for America and the people of this great nation.
It’s time for the house and senate to get together and pass a bill to correct the wrong that has been committed on this great nation and it’s citizens and legal residents.
I beg to differ with the estimated cost of 41 to 46 billion dollars a year to round up and deport all the illegal immigrants in this country, the five year plan is estimated to cost between 206 and 230 billion dollars is an extremely hostile and exaggerated figure.
Many millions of immigrants are known by Americans that live and work with these people, they can easily be identified and turned in to local police immigration department or whatever agency the government would want such information to go to.
That would be half the problem solved as far as cost, if an agency could be created as an arm to handle process and deport illegal immigrants on leads from the public, it would dramatically cut the costs put people back to work and reduce the stressed budgets of thousands of communities across the country.
Many communities across the country that have sizable illegal immigrant residence, their budgets have increased anywhere from 5% to 20% depending on the population.
The time has come for bold and firm decisions to be made concerning the illegal immigration issue, not everyone will like or agree with such decisions especially immigrants and their supporters, none the less they must be made, our elected leaders must step up to the plate and make courageous decisions and put an end to the illegal immigration that has threatened our security jobs wellbeing and future.
You know, of course, the deed is done in terms of tipping the demographic balance against the founding people of this country. The many children of illegals, who are born here because their parents exploited a constitutional loophole which gave their kids automatic citizenship, will continue the process. This can only be stopped by repealing this loophole retro-actively, whereby children born to persons illegally present in the country, or even to those born to parents who are legally present but not citizens, are stripped of US citizenship and automatically conferred with, or restored to, the original citizenship of their parents. Most of these children probably have duel-citizenship anyway, so they would not become stateless persons. They would then need to return to their home countries.
And then, of course, there are the sheer numbers–veritable hords–of new legal immigrants who are granted green-cards, citizenship, and our jobs each year….
If there is enough information provided to the public and the public actually has the brass to do what’s right for themselves it si just possible to get our nation on the right track.
With OsambobinBiden showing the country the true Color of Progressive Facists maybe there will be enough backlash to finally cleanup the country.
We have an even larger threat coming that we need to address right now. Don’t let these facist progressive libs hijack our country.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpQDFhwUjDE
In my neighbourhood, the Mexicans are hard workers and the Whites stay home and drink beer, smoke, watch movies and play video games. Maybe we should reconsider who should be deported.
From the above:
“About 10 million illegals would be subject to deportation…”
There are between 25 and 30 million illegal immigrants in the US.
The fictional number “10-12 million” has made remarkable headway, even among immigration hawks. Accepting your opponents’ false premises is not the way to victory.
We all know who are the illegal immigrants. So, we just report them all to the SS to have them deported. All the ones with funny sounding Spanish or otherwise names will be deported.Great solution. Screw the rights of man, just deport all of them
«Screw the rights of man, just deport all of them»
What rights do you have when you’re an illegal immigrant in a country. Unless you’re applying for refugee status, you certainly don’t have the right to pass for a poor innocent victim.
The great hero of WWII, General Dwight Eisenhower, elected as President of the United States, recognized the Mexican invasion in 1954 and took strong action.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wetback
“Burgeoning numbers of Mexican immigrants prompted President Dwight D. Eisenhower to appoint his longtime friend, General Joseph Swing, as INS Commissioner. According to Attorney General Herbert Brownell Jr., Eisenhower had a sense of urgency about illegal immigration upon taking office. In a letter to Sen. William Fulbright, Eisenhower quoted a report in The New York Times that said, “The rise in illegal border-crossing by Mexican ‘wetbacks’ (rooted from the watery route taken by the Mexican immigrants across the Rio Grande) to a current rate of more than 1,000,000 cases a year has been accompanied by a curious relaxation in ethical standards extending all the way from the farmer-exploiters of this contraband labor to the highest levels of the Federal Government.”
Since 1954, the Cultural Marxists, lead by traitorous Jew immigrants from the Frankfurt school, have taken over the media and banking system to ensure that candidates for elected office would sell their souls to the devil of cultural diversity.
There is really only one thing left to do…and if you are not preparing you will be swept under by the tsunami that is coming.
I think there’s lots more than 30 million of them here.
Mr. Edwin Rubinstein wrote an much needed common sense article, “The Economics of Immigration Enforcement: Assessing the costs and benefits of mass deportation”.
In principle, I agree illegal aliens and illegal immigrants; like foreign terrorist, are not US Citizens; and therefore, have no rights and liberties as American citizens period.
The bottom line, and operative word is “illegal”. That is, not lawful, not legal.
Whereas, I concur, the most cost efficient means to set this right, is to eliminate jobs.
Followed, in part, and not limited to, cease and desist all abatement; with respect to so called “sanctuary cities” law enforcement and identifying non US Citizens. Then, without exception and political bias, criminalizing all whom aid and abet illegal aliens and illegal immigrants. Whereby such unlawful activities result in forfeiting Federal funding, licenses, 501 C 3 statuses, tax exemptions, reporting all diversionary subversion activities that may aid and abet individuals, organizations, businesses and yes, even churches.
So, let’s do what’s right, under the law, in intent and letter thereof, and enforce, prosecute and penalize, monetarily, all whom shall violate the law.
I, too, contend if there is no job, and legal enforcement measures employed instead of illegals. Whereas, it is arguably, illegal aliens and illegal immigrants shall willingly realize it is in their best interest to return to the country of origin. And if inclined to petition legally for immigration into the USA, they may do so.
With that said, I also, advocate for immigration reform in a more timely manner for those legally requesting to emigrate to the USA; with preference for immediate family members: sons, daughters and spouse.
Furthermore, it is my belief, immigration shall be limited to countries of our heritage, and ancestry in European and Asian countries; as it was prior to the changes under the late Senator Ted Kennedy. It is a disservice to give refuge and subsequent refugee status to Islamic Muslim into a primarily Judeo Christian nation, under God, not Allah, when there are other more suitable countries with greater similarities than differences, for our mutual good and welfare. Otherwise, its like mixing oil and water; and don’t assimilate as one.
And it is equally as counter intuitive for presidential Executive Orders to lift all restrictions for immigration. It is, especially, inept and irresponsible to allow those with infectious diseases, including and not limited to AIDS, HIV, STD, and so forth to freely enter America.
The crux is, whether its economic factors, adverse polar opposing ideology, or deadly infectious diseases, it all harms America. And what made American great as a beacon of hope for all Americans; willing to be part of the melting pot American experience; forged and molded into Americans, is lost.
DR
The term anti illegal immigration is not how they are getting in. Catholic Family Services is bringing in many third world people through the refugee status. Many come from somalia and burma and africa. These people are disabled, have hiv, and many host of diseases. They bring them to Ny, or any other welfare state. They are put on the welfare and medicaid system. Many are mentally ill. I work in the social serivces and i see this everyday. Americans that need help and are turned away, but as soon as this agency brings in refugees they get welfare. We are paying for people that will never be productive. Please look into this orgazination. Can a 86 year old person work? A mentally ill one? They are bringing in at least 2000 a year in my county alone. This is where they are coming in. They get free medical care on the back of the taxpayer but yet when you need help you are denied. You need to check out the term refugee status and focus on that because this is how they are bringing them in.
On target. We must work to end in-migration of alien parasite races and began to demand deportation by educating the public and polarizing them into resistance.
We cannot afford to spend this much on enforcement!!!! Yes we need to enforce our border but we can’t afford to deport every illegal immigrant, most of whom have NO CRIMINAL RECORD. The illegals with a criminal record are already prosecuted in federal court, many receiving 3-6 years in prison at a cost of $26,000 per year (for a federal prison bed). Immigration reform should focus on family reunification, employer sanctions and granting temporary work visas that require workers to pay taxes, keep a clean criminal record and go back to their home country to renew their work visa. When hard-working immigrants are deported it just makes their US citizen dependents have to go on welfare. We need to be analytical and practical about this and not so dogmatic and emotional. We are spending ourselves into bankruptcy with money borrowed from China and it has to stop NOW.
This article is 100% correct.
I wouldn’t worry about the cost. First: add up how much immigrants are costing both the US and taxpayers through all the various welfare programs, free health care etc. Next, add in the loss of US citizens’ jobs, with its subsequent drain on Unemployment Insurance, loss of homes, loss of purchasing power etc.
Finally, no worries about deporting costs. I am sure there are hundreds of thousands of US citizens who would be more than happy to transport these people back to where they came from for free.
As an added measure, this country should stop making it so attractive to jump the border and enjoy the many benefits that struggling citizens can no longer afford.
Enforcing our borders would not be that expensive; rather it is a matter of ignoring liberals’ whinings. One example is to electrify the fence. That alone should prove a deterrent to those considering just “hopping over”. A quick check of the border protections used by other countries would yield more inexpensive yet efficient ways of keeping out illegals.
I agree 100% with this person’s comment at the bottom of mine.
Regardless of what everyone else has said this statement below is the best way to do this. The rest of you are extremely racist and you stated in your comments directly and indirectly. One comment was only let Asian and Europeans here, who’s countries are like America “YOU GUYS are very racist and you are the type of people who keep racism in America alive you feed it to your generations after generations. You call them trash parasite and dogs, the exact same words you use for black people. They are human beings (people) regardless of where they come from. This is the same way you guys feel about all people of color. You are haters with no hearts, ignorant thieves! As long as you were making money, before the America’s economy went soar, you said NOTHING, why because the undocumented workers were cleaning your house, building your mega homes, picking up your trash, mowing your lawns, doing all that you lazy ass American felt was beneath you to do for yourself. No different they you did with blacks in slavery the did the same things for you Americans and when you were finish with the Blacks you wanted them out! It is a cycle with you all. You were quiet and the influx of undocumented workers did not begin with the Obama administrations, but the good ole white boy administration, and again I repeat as long as it for the good of what the HAVE want everything is good. Why are you afraid of the HAVE not? You should have been yelling 10 year ago, but no you said nothing because life was good for the thieves (HAVE) who stole the land from the Indians. You want your money back it is not the undocumented workers who put America in this debt it is your corrupted good ole boys go get your money from them and your lives, this country and your money will be back on track, they are the ones to BLAME!
You guys are the trash, parasites, and dogs you blood suckers! Heartless evil demons, I pray for you, you really need God in your life. This is GOD’s land. We are people, we all are made from GOD, we bleed the same as you do we are PEOPLE. READ JAMES 4:1-10 ALL OF YOU READ IT please! If you hate people of color, why do you want TANS, full lips, perm your hair to be curly, use the music in your businesses, etc…just to name a few things that people of color are BORN with? WHY? You want everything and have a lot and it still will not validate you, sorry. Change your heart and corrupted ignorant thinking you are so unhappy with your selves you will attack everyone. Look in the mirror fools, your so foolish it is sad.
I echo the writer below good job!
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Posted by Victimized Taxpayer on March 26, 2010 at 12:39 pm
We cannot afford to spend this much on enforcement!!!! Yes we need to enforce our border but we can’t afford to deport every illegal immigrant, most of whom have NO CRIMINAL RECORD. The illegals with a criminal record are already prosecuted in federal court, many receiving 3-6 years in prison at a cost of $26,000 per year (for a federal prison bed). Immigration reform should focus on family reunification, employer sanctions and granting temporary work visas that require workers to pay taxes, keep a clean criminal record and go back to their home country to renew their work visa. When hard-working immigrants are deported it just makes their US citizen dependents have to go on welfare. We need to be analytical and practical about this and not so dogmatic and emotional. We are spending ourselves into bankruptcy with money borrowed from China and it has to stop NOW.
Posted by Victimized Taxpayer on March 26, 2010 at 12:39 pm
To Greg Kirnie who posted on this site. Where I am from the mexicans are not hard workers. They do the jobs half as good and with half the knowledge of the whites. The company I work for is now mostly mexican’s. They started hiring mexicans because they will do the jobs for a lot less money then legal American’s. They had a big layoff when the economy started to get bad, the people they hired back were almost all Mexican’s and work for less money than the people who worked there before. So to say the Mexican’s are harder workers is a lie, we have more problems now than we ever had at the company I work at. As for the white people who stay home and drink beer and smoke, well when company’s are hiring people for less money now than in the 90’s and they can make more money on unemployment than working, I guess I can’t blame them for staying home!! I don’t understand how anyone could say illegal alien’s are not hurting the economy. Because they are illegal, they will do jobs for half the wage of legal citizen’s, this is hurting the economy, by bring down the wages and that is a fact.
leticia olalia morales of 15501 pasadena ave #8 tustin ca 92780 submitted fake documents and paid a consul 5000.00 dollars to obtain a US tourist visa. she is now applying for citizenship after submitting fake employment records for a work visa.
Our politicians have been selling us out for many years now on many levels. Yes, illegal aliens is one issue, and I admit an extremely large problem. We do need to deal with it and pronto because the next problem we are going to be dealing with is Is lam. They are a lot worse then Mexico and other illegals in this country. The current illegals will only be practice for what is to come I assure you. If our government refuses to do the will of the people, perhaps it is time for the people to consider doing for themselves. We have run out of options and are really almost out of time here. While they keep us with an eye trained on illegals for years on end, they are keeping all of you from seeing an even bigger problem which we on the borders down here do know. They are smuggling Mooslums across as well. They have TeRor camps and schools all over the US now as well mosques (which incidentally are more then just churches they are civic centers and their main recruiting stations.) Our govt has allowed them to even alter our children’s text books in their favor. So, let’s quit talking and get serious here. It is time for a much needed march of millions to the White House that they cannot ignore on both of these issues. Two birds with one stone you might say. The youtube link above by afuel is an excellent one and there are many others as well. Many Islam ists are out there trying to warn us but the politicians and news media are hushing it all up. Research it and lets quit talking and act! Our very lives are at stake here people. I do not want to leave this mess to my children!
And Mmartin, You need to seriously let go of your hate my friend. You cannot hold such hate in your heart and then quote the Word and throw stones at others no matter how wrong they may be. Don’t get mad at Whity my friend. Your real enemy is before you as stated in Rev. The beast with the 7 heads…the 7 are of Is lam and that day is coming. They tell us daily of their intentions but we simply cannot comprehend an enemy so vile and wicked as to be so utterly the opposite of everything we know and understand. But I say this, if they can creep into the house of a peacefully sleeping family and kill all, including small children in their beds because they are simply of another race, you better fear! Especially as one was a 3 month old baby with it’s throat slit. They will tell the black man that he is an integrated part of their culture and lie to get him to act with them. Bu the truth is, they have always held the black man as slaves, and still do, placing them on the level of dogs. That is in their Qu ‘ran, not in my Bible. So pick your friends carefully. Those that you think are enemies today, may turn out to be the ones saving your life tomorrow. Let it go and just be an American…all of you. Unite! Make the future a future, and a better one then it is now.
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