Illegal Immigrants Are a Drain on Idaho’s Taxpayers. By Fred Birnbaum (10/15/24)
Recently, the leftist organization Idaho Center For Fiscal Policy (ICFP) reported on a national study that illegal immigrants contribute $72 million in Idaho taxes per year, and they pay taxes at a higher rate than citizens in the top 1%. But that report is incomplete and completely misleading.
Author Fred Birnbaum's conclusions after presenting the facts:
The attempts to sell illegal immigrants as “taxpayers” to Idaho fall flat when we review the data. Idaho should prioritize the needs of U.S. citizens for the use of taxpayer dollars and not remain a magnet for illegals by giving them services that cost Idaho taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
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Perhaps the people at ICFP are trying to deter the Idaho Legislature from taking up key legislation aimed at saving Idaho taxpayers from the burden they pay because of illegal immigration. Conservatives believe that the Legislature should prioritize the needs of Idahoans who are U.S. citizens and not roll out the carpet for illegals.
Key points:
Illegals can pay income taxes only if they have fraudulently obtained social security numbers, unless they obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), which allows those “not eligible” for Social Security numbers to pay taxes if they want to [ED NOTE: Emphasis added].
Idaho’s state and local governments are on the hook for several hundred million dollars when taxes contributed by illegals are compared against the net costs to provide services to illegals and their dependents.
About 63% of the cost of illegals in America falls to state and local governments. The net cost to Idaho for each illegal immigrant, after accounting for taxes paid, exceeds $4,800 per year.
Illegal immigrants have a negative fiscal impact — taxes paid minus benefits received — because they have relatively low average incomes and tax payments, making them eligible for means-tested programs and other government services.
Illegal immigrants make extensive use of welfare. An estimated 59% of households headed by illegal immigrants use one or more major welfare programs, compared to 39% of households headed by the U.S.-born.
At the state level, the largest expenditure is for education, followed by medical and justice costs.
Most mainstream organizations have not updated their population estimates of illegals despite the surge under President Biden, so the cost estimates could be far higher.
Please read the article for all the details.
Related:
Immigration articles from Idaho Freedom Foundation: idahofreedom.org/catego…
Idaho’s Illegal Immigration, Open Borders, Related Crimes & Security. What Can WE Do?
