The $240 billion is a scarecrow. Make a few high-profile busts, cut-off entitlements, and most of the economic stimulus for them to remain will evaporate. Even if you buy the $240 billion number... Each illegal alien costs the taxpayer approx $3,000/yr in entitlements. 3K x 20,000,000 = 60 Billion. The break-even point would be 4 yrs. Not a bad investment, IMHO.
He was claiming $240 billion a year for the next 10 years.
Right. However, Congress first had to consider rounding up all of them and the cost of doing that. Then, they went to the next cheaper alternative, which is the pseudo-amnesty program. Then there is the structural problem of anchor babies.