Dr. Steven Camarota, the Director of Research for the Center for Immigration Studies, recently testified before the Judiciary Committee during a hearing entitled "The Impact of Illegal Immigration on Social Services." In his testimony, Camarota argued that "illegal immigrants" are unable to compensate for the costs they incur.
Dr. Camarota's assertions were numerous and detailed. He stated, "Illegal immigrants are a net fiscal drain, meaning they receive more in government services than they pay in taxes." Despite working at high rates and paying some taxes, he argued that these individuals do not cover their incurred costs due to their lower education levels. Furthermore, he discussed the significant issues arising from the current immigration situation and its impact on taxpayers.
According to Camarota's testimony, "From January 2021 to November 2023 there were nearly 8 million 'encounters' at all U.S. borders. There has never been this many encounters over such a short period of time." Since President Biden took office, approximately 2.7 million inadmissible immigrants have been allowed into the country in addition to the 1.5 million "got-aways."
Camarota noted that this influx of "illegal immigrants" has caused difficulties for American communities and cities. He highlighted that New York City expects to spend $12 billion in the next three years accommodating these individuals while Massachusetts estimates $2 billion in similar expenses. Other cities like Chicago and Washington D.C., also predict high costs.
In his testimony, Camarota pointed out that 69% of "adult illegal immigrants" have not received any education beyond high school. Using this data, he estimated the net fiscal drain (taxes paid minus benefits received) per immigrant to be about $68,000.
He further identified other costs associated with "illegal immigrants", such as welfare and public schooling expenses. According to his findings, there is a high welfare rate among these individuals, who receive an estimated $42 billion in welfare benefits. However, he clarified, "The high welfare use of illegal immigrant households is not explained by an unwillingness to work." There is at least one worker in 94% of immigrant households compared to 73% of American homes. He also estimated that the cost of educating the children of "illegal immigrants" in public schools was $68.1 billion in 2019.
In conclusion, Camarota argued that based on the average education and income levels of immigrants, it is impossible for them to offset their housing costs. He stated, "Illegal immigrants do add perhaps $321 billion to the nation’s GDP, but this is not a measure of their tax contributions or the benefits they create for the U.S.-born. Almost all the increase in economic activity goes to the illegal immigrants themselves in the form of wages."
Camarota serves as the director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS). He has authored extensive reports on immigration's economic, fiscal, and demographic impacts. He holds a master's degree in political science from the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate in public policy analysis from the University of Virginia.
