Published on Mon, Apr 25, 2011
Unlike certain corporate powers that make billions of dollars and pay no taxes, illegal immigrants generate billions of tax dollars for state governments. allgov.com
The Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy has concluded that unauthorized immigrants paid $11.2 billion in taxes last year. This total included $1.2 billion in personal income taxes, $1.6 billion in property taxes, and $8.4 billion in sales taxes. allgov.com
The U.S. Immigration Policy Center says these figures should be kept in mind as politicians and commentators continue with the seemingly endless debate over what to do with unauthorized immigrants already living in the United States. sun-sentinel.com
The Washington-based research group says in spite of the fact that they lack legal status, these immigrants -- and their family members -- are adding value to the U.S. economy; not only as taxpayers, but as workers, consumers, and entrepreneurs." sun-sentinel.com
HIGHLIGHTS
California gets the most out of its undocumented workers, pulling in $2.7 billion in taxes from households headed by illegals in 2010. laweekly.com
Other states that gained the most revenue from illegal immigrants paying taxes were Texas ($1.6 billion), Florida ($807 million), New York ($662 million), and Illinois ($499 million). allgov.com
They were followed by Georgia ($456 million), New Jersey ($446 million) and Arizona ($433 million). allgov.com
Some undocumented workers in California say they are filing income tax returns, hoping that playing by the rules will be an eventual path to citizenship. UPI
FACTS & FIGURES
An estimated 11 to 12 million undocumented immigrants live and work in the United States. That's roughly one in every 20 workers. Reuters
The Obama administration has deported more illegal immigrants from the U.S. than ever before. NPR
Undocumented workers are willing to work for lower wages and minimal or no benefits, therefore enabling employers to make higher business profits. usliberals.about.com
Employers often threaten undocumented immigrants with deportation, thus these workers cannot effectively assert their rights in the workplace. Alternet.org
According to a study by the Cato Institute, a free market think tank, legalization of low-skilled illegal resident workers in the U.S. would result in a net increase in U.S. GDP of $180 billion over 10 years. Newsweek
Mass deportation of undocumented immigrants would cost the United States $285 billion. thinkprogress.org
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