Assertions about immigrants get thrown around a lot.
In an election year, assertions are made by both parties about a number of topics, but in 2024 the topic of immigration has received unending attention, and not all the statements made by major party candidates about immigrants have been true.
With pressure on both parties to speak strongly regarding immigration, even the Democrat-led Biden Administration has announced that the Department of Homeland Security removed or returned more than 750,000 people this year, more than in any fiscal year since 2010.
One of the misconceptions about immigrants that gets mentioned a lot by politicians and the media is that immigrants are draining the economy and not paying taxes. While this has been disproven time and time again, a recent article in Newsweek put the argument to rest with cold, hard math.
An analysis from the American Immigration Council, published this year, states that in 2022, immigrant households paid $579.1 billion in total taxes, as well as another $35.1 billion by undocumented households. That math comes out to almost one out of every six tax dollars being paid by immigrants!
Nearly one out of every seven people in the United States are immigrants, and as more and more studies are done, facts are showing the incredibly positive economic impact that immigrants have on the country. For example, within 20 years of their arrival, the average refugee adult has contributed approximately $21,000 more in taxes than funds spent on their behalf. And when counted together, immigrants harness a whopping $1.6 trillion in spending power.
You may continue to hear fabrications about immigrants as we get closer to election day. It is a sad, but palpable reality. But we hope that real numbers like this Newsweek report on immigrant taxes will help people realize the truth about immigrants and the U.S. economy.
If you would like to speak with one of our immigration attorneys you can reach us at (757) 422-8472, or send us a message on our website. You can also schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys by clicking on this link.
