Study: Illegal immigrants boost economy, drain services

Ft. Worth Star-Telegram ^ | Dec. 07, 2006 | JOHN MORITZ

[txroadkill]

AUSTIN — Undocumented immigrants pumped nearly $18 billion into the Texas economy last year and sent $420 million more to Austin in taxes than they received in state services, a report released Thursday by the state comptroller’s office shows.

The report, believed to be the first ever to calculate the cost of illegal immigration to a U.S. state, also found that local governments pay far more to provide services to the undocumented than they recoup in taxes, fees and other revenue sources.

“I was surprised by these findings myself,” said Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, who will leave office next month after two terms as the state’s top finance official. “But there is little doubt that if we took undocumented immigrants out of the work force, $17.7 billion would disappear from the Texas economy.”

Strayhorn said that Texas’ tax structure, which places levies on consumption but not on income, makes it virtually impossible for undocumented immigrants to avoid paying state taxes. And in addition to paying sales tax, undocumented immigrants also purchase lottery tickets and pay motor fuels taxes, property taxes and other government levies, the report shows.

Further, illegal immigrants do not qualify for such state-backed services as food stamps, traditional Medicaid, public housing or cash assistance, Strayhorn said.

But that does not mean that immigrants who enter Texas illegally do not receive any government services. Some can qualify for emergency Medicaid services for childbirth or life-threatening ailments. Others are treated without reimbursement by public hospitals and clinics. And still others are incarcerated in county jails and state prisons for breaking the law after entering the country illegally.

[txroadkill]

The 21-page report said that putting an exact dollar figure on the impact of illegal immigration was difficult because of the complexities of measuring that population. But it estimates that they contribute nearly $1.6 billion in revenues to the state, while using nearly $1.2 billion in services, a difference of about $420 million.

Public schools are forbidden to ask about a student’s citizenship status, and adults do not fill out federal census reports. But the report estimated that educating undocumented students from kindergarten through high school costs $957 million last year.

[txroadkill]

link to report:

View the full report

 

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

People are going to argue both ways to suit their purposes. The reality is -- illegal immigration is not good for ANY country. That's why it is called "illegal" immigration. If we didn't have a long-term problem with "illegal" immigration, then why not make ALL immigration legal? Oh, the stupidity...

[mountn man]

The federal government spends almost $11,000 per child in education.

That means for a family of 4 (Mom, Dad, and 2 kids) Mom and Dad would have to make about $88,000 a year (if they pay 25% in federal income tax), just to pay for their kids education.

[Man50D]

Undocumented immigrants pumped nearly $18 billion into the Texas economy last year and sent $420 million more to Austin in taxes than they received in state services, a report released Thursday by the state comptroller’s office shows.

Mr. Moritz referring to illegal immigrants as "undocumented" clearly indicates his pro immigrant bias. Mr. Moritz can't see the forest for the trees. All these figures are irrelevant since illegal immigrants are violating our immigration laws just by being in this country.

Regardless of the above point, these figures are questionable considering many hospitals have closed their doors because they couldn't afford to keep treating illegal aliens who don't pay their medical bills.

[peeps36]

I didn't see an estimate on how much it costs a family who had a child molested by an illegal immigrant.Did it mention the cost of car insurance or the injuries and death caused by non insured illegal drivers?Maybe they should add the costs that come from all the drugs that cross our border with the illegal aliens.I don't even want to think about the price we will pay when a few terrorist mingle in with the illegals crossing our border.

[FLOutdoorsman]

'we took undocumented immigrants out of the work force, $17.7 billion would disappear from the Texas economy.”

Wow, that sounds like a 1850's Slave argument. Even though it's wrong, we need them for our economy.

[packrat35]

So true-see my tagline

[TheLion]

Bull...Illegal aliens cost us big time. Typical of some liberal publication to paint a rosey picture.

[mountn man]

I read that something like 1/3 of all prison inmates are illeagals.

When John Wayne Gacy was alive, I had heard it cost the government $50,000 a year to feed clothe and house him.

If $50,000 is an accurate number for each prisoner today, illeagals would have to make $200,000 for each prisoner, if they paid taxes at 25%.

I have no idea how many prisoners there are, but for arguements sake, if 10% of the adult illeagals were in prison, that means each working and tax paying illeagal would have to pay $5,000 in taxes just to pay for the illeagal prisoners. That would be $10,000 for a working couple.

If that couple has kids see post #4.

[Nachum]

Figures never lie, but liars figure.

[txroadkill]

Another figure that will shock you, It cost the government $5-10K a day to track and apprehend a fugitive. I wounder how long it takes to find an illegal wanted for a crime.

[umgud]

Just think how rich we'd be if we had 40 or 50 million more illegals.

[kenth]

“But there is little doubt that if we took undocumented immigrants out of the work force, $17.7 billion would disappear from the Texas economy.”

No, because the work needs to be done no matter what, so that money would still be generated; probably more than the 18 billion merely because wages and labor costs wouldn't be depressed.

[Thunder90]

The report will be used as justification to extend state and federal services to the Illegal immigrants, just as the Democrats want to do.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

illegal immigrants do not qualify for such state-backed services as food stamps, traditional Medicaid, public housing or cash assistance, Strayhorn said.

The guy and the newspaper employee never heard of document fraud like phony SSN cards and such?

Classic American-Mexican humor: one liners category.

"Take my wife.. please!" Henny Youngman

"Even if [ILLEGAL immigrants] wanted [public benefits], the law does not allow them." Ana Yanez Correa

[bordergal]

You can get a decent private school education for 3-4 grand a year.

[cpdiii]

The 21-page report said that putting an exact dollar figure on the impact of illegal immigration was difficult because of the complexities of measuring that population. But it estimates that they contribute nearly $1.6 billion in revenues to the state, while using nearly $1.2 billion in services, a difference of about $420 million. Public schools are forbidden to ask about a student’s citizenship status, and adults do not fill out federal census reports. But the report estimated that educating undocumented students from kindergarten through high school costs $957 million last year.

If you factor in the schools that means the State of Texas spends 537 million more than we bring in in revenue. However, what is not stated in the report is what is the cost of educating and medical care of their children that were born here and thus are legal. The report only spoke of services for illegals.

Always remember the words of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), "There are liars, damn liars, and statisticians." We really do not know how much they cost us.

PS
I am a gringo, my wife is from Mexico and she came here legally and works in defense, graduated top in her class here in the USA. We need the immigrants to our great nation. They must come here legally and be a part of our culture and nation. The present system will result in the Balkanazation of our land. That would be tragic and would destroy our nation.

[Razz Barry]

Further, illegal immigrants do not qualify for such state-backed services as food stamps, traditional Medicaid, public housing or cash assistance, Strayhorn said.

Illegals don't qualify but their American born children do. If their children were counted on the illegal side you'd see a big difference.

[CottShop]

43 billion is sent back home over the border to their families each year- They needed to spend money on this 'study'? Any idiot with 1/2 an I.Q point could have told them illegals are costing the U.S BILLIONS every single year- doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. 12 people a day are murdered by violent illegal aliens, another 13 per day are killed by illegals drunk driving- 93 violent illegal imigrants are comming across our borders EVERY single day, and somethign like 83,000 violent illegals reside here illegally, walking the streets every day! Yep- let's keep them borders nice and wide open- We need all of Mexicos riff raff comming across the border (Please not- I'm ONLY refering to the violent criminals- not the folks who look to imigrate legally)