Hey, it’s my domain and website; if I want to take a break from book and podcast reviews to lay down some facts pertaining to news that I feel is social justice related, that’s what I will do. Plus, it’s irritating when you see vague news from someone like Elon Musk telling you that he will save the country billions. At least it’s irritating to me because he’s not providing all the facts. Because I know people will read the headlines without context and continue to back the extremist government we’re currently facing.
So, here it goes.
The question of whether the U.S. government spends billions on undocumented immigrants is complicated. Here’s a simple breakdown of how money flows in and out of the system.
What Benefits Do Undocumented Immigrants Receive?
- Emergency Medical Care:
Undocumented immigrants can’t get most government benefits like food stamps or regular Medicaid. However, federal law lets them use emergency Medicaid for life-threatening health issues (like a heart attack or car accident). Spending on this care has risen sharply—totaling $16.2 billion under the Biden administration. However, it’s important to note that hospitals cannot deny emergency care to anyone, regardless of insurance status, thanks to a federal law called the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). So, allowing undocumented immigrants to use emergency Medicaid then ensures the hospital gets paid. Even then, EMTALA is a partial fix for a deeply broken system. Quality healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. - State Programs:
Some states, like New York, created their own programs to help undocumented immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, New York offered payments of up to $15,600 to workers who lost jobs but couldn’t get federal aid. These programs are funded by states, not the U.S. Treasury. So any news reporting otherwise is simply not correct.
Taxes Paid vs. Benefits Received
- Tax Contributions:
Undocumented immigrants pay billions in taxes each year:- $59.4 billion to federal programs like Social Security and Medicare.
- $37.3 billion in state and local taxes (sales tax, property tax).
They often pay these taxes using fake Social Security numbers or special tax IDs, but they can’t claim most benefits in return.
- Tax Credits Debate:
Some lawmakers argue that undocumented families claim $3.8–$4.5 billion yearly in tax credits meant for low-income workers. However, this is controversial because federal rules block them from getting these credits.
The Cost of Deportation
- Removing 1 million undocumented immigrants could cost over $10,500 per person.
- Losing their tax payments would also mean the government misses out on $8.9 billion in revenue annually.
Key Takeaways
- Undocumented immigrants pay far more in taxes than they receive in benefits.
- Most federal benefits (like Social Security) are off-limits to them.
- Emergency healthcare and state programs cost billions, but these are a small part of total government spending.
The debate often centers on fairness: Should people who pay taxes get more benefits, or should the rules stay strict? The numbers show it’s not a simple “yes” or “no” answer.
So, when you hear blanket statements that make it seem like the US government is wasting money frivolously. There are many intricacies to how policies work, and making blanket, extremist statements is a dangerous thing to do.
Do I support finding ways to save money? Of course, but I’m also not naive enough to think that anything Elon Musk saves will help any of us taxpayers.
Just some food for thought. Good day!
