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.

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.

  • Blackout@kbin.run
    88·
    4 months ago

    They also restore run down areas of the city, start small businesses that hire local, support their community and help future immigrants, bring culture and part of what makes America great.

  • NatakuNox@lemmy.world
    18·
    4 months ago

    All the conservatives crying about the boarder is nothing more than bigoted value signaling and only exist to tell brown immigrants they are second class citizens.

  • Cocodapuf@lemmy.world
    8·
    4 months ago

    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.

    • Crikeste@lemm.ee
      4·
      4 months ago

      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.

      • kevindqc@lemmy.world
        13·
        4 months ago

        At the state and local levels, slightly less than half (46 percent, or $15.1 billion) of the tax payments made by undocumented immigrants are through sales and excise taxes levied on their purchases. Most other payments are made through property taxes, such as those levied on homeowners and renters (31 percent, or $10.4 billion), or through personal and business income taxes (21 percent, or $7.0 billion).

    • mhague@lemmy.world
      9·
      4 months ago

      You use an ITIN and pay taxes. It’s the law that you need to pay taxes whether you’re here legally or not, which means we specifically create pathways for people who are here illegally to pay their fair share. Illegal immigrants pay taxes as one of the ways of building social credit for when they can naturalize.

      • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
        3·
        4 months ago

        This I heard before, but don’t understand. If they send in their itin do they also send in their personal information like name and address when they pay taxes?

        If they do, how would they not get deported?

          • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
            3·
            4 months ago

            Do you mean that if you submit your illegal status to the IRS, they wouldn’t report you to Homeland security or ice or whatever?

            • JWBananas@lemmy.worldEnglish
              5·
              4 months ago

              Correct. The only thing the IRS cares about is whether you have an SSN or an ITIN.

              Picture it: You’re the IRS. You’re basically Santa Claus. You know all.

              Do you tattle? Why?

              Would it get a few people deported? Maybe. Maybe not.

              Would it do anything to solve the systemic issues that result in undocumented immigrants in the first place? Definitely not.

              Would it do anything at all to deter future undocumented immigrants? Not a chance.

              Would it disincentivize undocumented immigrants from paying taxes, reducing the overall revenue you can collect? Absolutely!

              Does this also apply to criminal enterprises and other such persons or groups with secrets? You betcha!

              Would it set a dangerous precedent on the slippery slope into authoritarianism? You tell me!

              • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
                2·
                4 months ago

                I would wager it’s more about the added revenue than concern over authoritarianism, haha, but that’s very interesting that they don’t report it to homeland security.

                Thanks

  • Media Bias Fact Checker@lemmy.worldB
    3·
    4 months ago
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  • skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de
    3·
    4 months ago

    I started watching this 1950s TV series called The Fugitive that was on some cable channel 10 or so years back. (The movie was based on the series.) There was an episode (in the 1950s) about illegal immigrants, and how they are needed to pick crops, and California is on fire and they need firefighters for a big wildfire. At the time, I just went to myself, “well, these problems have existed for a long time.” Obviously climate change has added a shit twist to the fire part, but how much string-pulling has politics dragged us on forever with alleged problems they never solve so they can keep their votes and power?