Undocumented immigrants paid almost $100 billion of taxes, underscoring the importance of border policies on the country’s tax collections, according to a new report.
One of the most common arguments for curtailing immigration is the cost borne by the US government. But undocumented immigrants pay more than a quarter, about 26%, of their income in taxes, in line with the median taxpayer, according to a report released Tuesday by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a left-leaning think tank.
In total, undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion, or roughly $9,000 per person, in taxes in 2022, the report shows. While their incomes are usually lower, they’re less likely to claim refunds or earn tax-preferred income.
About one third of the total dollars collected from undocumented immigrants funded programs they’re mostly barred from using, including $26 billion to Social Security and $6 billion to Medicare, the report said.
I’ve never understood this pushback against immigration. It seems to me that the bottom line is this: big countries are more powerful than small countries.
That’s why China makes people genuinely worried, but the Philippines (which has a government that’s just as scary) doesn’t really seem to concern people. But to return to my point, big countries are more powerful and “big” in this context is really a measure of economy. And one major driver of economy is population. The more people we have, the more productive we are, and the more powerful we are. If you truly want to make America great, invite everyone in, give them the means to get started and let the country reap all the lasting benefits.
If you’re not willing to help America grow, then I’ve got news for you, you aren’t making America great at all, you’re restricting it, you’re sealing it in a box and limiting its growth. You’re the problem.
Ironically, I think America’s “growth” should come from a scaling back of our imperialist tendencies to focus more time, energy and resources here at home. But this has nothing to do with immigration. Well actually, scaling back military operations might afford us the ability to properly take in all the immigrants that are coming here. It might give us the resources to take everyone in, take care of them for a short time until they’re independent.
I just wish we treated them properly. We have entire industries being propped up by the low wages they’re allowed to pay their workers; because they’re ’illegal immigrants’. It’s bullshit and that quasi-slavery needs to end.
Racism and xenophobia