The Real Costs of US Illegal Immigration: Facts, Figures, and Security Risks
Illegal immigration remains one of the most pressing challenges facing the United States, yet much of the public conversation is dominated by politically charged narratives that downplay the tangible costs and risks. To separate facts from ideology, it’s important to examine the fiscal, security, and social consequences based on verifiable data.
Financial Burden on Taxpayers
Estimates of the total annual cost of illegal immigration vary depending on methodology and scope. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the net financial burden in 2023 was approximately $150.7 billion, while higher-end estimates place it as high as $250 billion annually when all federal, state, and local expenses are considered.
Undocumented immigrants do pay taxes—an estimated $96.7 billion in 2022, split between the federal government ($59.4 billion) and state/local governments ($37.3 billion). Subtracting this from the total costs results in a net burden ranging from $54 billion to $153.3 billion per year.
Even at the state level, costs are substantial. For instance:
California: Estimated net cost over $25 billion annually.
Texas: Estimated net cost over $20 billion annually.
Florida: Taxpayers spend over $8 billion annually on services such as emergency medical care, incarceration, public education, and welfare programs.
Additional costs often overlooked include:
Emergency room care for uninsured undocumented immigrants.
Education costs for children of undocumented immigrants in K-12 public schools.
Incarceration costs for undocumented immigrants who commit crimes.
Legal and administrative costs of immigration court backlogs.
Border Encounters and National Security
In FY 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded over 2.4 million encounters at the Southwest border and 3.2 million nationwide. Alarmingly, at least 1.7 million “gotaways” evaded capture—more than 53% of those encountered remain in the country illegally.
Among the apprehended were 169 individuals on the terrorist watchlist, highlighting national security risks posed by gaps in border enforcement.
Additional security concerns:
Criminal aliens: ICE data shows that illegal immigrants comprise a disproportionate share of individuals convicted of crimes in certain states.
Gang involvement: Some undocumented immigrants are linked to transnational gangs such as MS-13.
Border enforcement resources: Tens of thousands of Border Patrol and ICE personnel are required to track and apprehend unauthorized entrants, diverting resources from other law enforcement priorities.
Drug Trafficking and Public Health Risks
Illegal immigration intersects with drug trafficking challenges:
In FY 2024, CBP and HSI seized over 5,500 pounds of fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid.
FY 2023 saw more than 43,000 pounds of fentanyl intercepted, along with methamphetamine and cocaine.
Fentanyl is lethal in very small amounts—just 2 milligrams can kill most people.
Overdose deaths in 2022 exceeded 100,000, with roughly 70% linked to synthetic opioids.
Drug cartels exploit porous borders to traffic lethal substances, and evidence suggests that regions with high rates of illegal crossings correlate with increased drug smuggling activity. Beyond fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine seizures highlight the broader public health and law enforcement stakes of uncontrolled border entry.
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is a significant consequence linked to unauthorized border crossings. According to Polaris:
Nearly 11,500 cases of human trafficking were reported in 2019.
Many cases involved minors, highlighting the exploitation risks associated with illegal immigration.
Border regions are key transit points for traffickers moving victims into the interior U.S.
Human trafficking intersects with illegal immigration, demonstrating that this issue is not solely financial—it’s also a matter of law enforcement, human rights, and accountability.
Employment, Welfare, and Economic Considerations
Contrary to some narratives:
Undocumented immigrants often compete for low-wage jobs, which can suppress wages for American workers in certain sectors.
Many undocumented immigrants are eligible for limited welfare benefits indirectly via state programs or emergency services.
The fiscal burden is amplified when undocumented workers’ children—U.S. citizens—utilize public education and health systems.
The Leftist Misconceptions
Many progressive or left-leaning narratives frame illegal immigration purely as a humanitarian issue, downplaying costs and risks. Common misperceptions include:
“Undocumented immigrants pay more than they cost.”
Net costs still range $54 billion to $153.3 billion annually, depending on estimates.
“Border security is cruel or unnecessary.”
CBP reports 1.7 million evaders, including individuals on terrorist watchlists. National security and public safety depend on effective border enforcement.
“All border crossers are fleeing persecution.”
Data shows encounters include people evading law enforcement, drug smugglers, human traffickers, and gang members. While humanitarian cases exist, they are not representative of the total population.
This perspective emphasizes law and order, transparency, and national security, rather than ethnicity or nationality. Policies ignoring these facts risk financial strain, crime escalation, and public health crises.
Conclusion
Illegal immigration imposes measurable costs on taxpayers, challenges law enforcement, facilitates drug trafficking, and creates vulnerabilities for human trafficking. Beyond ideology, these are verifiable facts that demand attention.
Effective policymaking requires separating ideology from evidence—ensuring financial, security, and humanitarian considerations are all addressed. Ignoring these realities jeopardizes public safety, fiscal stability, and the integrity of U.S. borders.
