A recent study conducted by Daniel Di Martino of the Manhattan Institute indicates that mass deportations of unskilled, uneducated migrants could greatly improve the national deficit. Di Martino’s study, titled “The Lifetime Fiscal Impact of Immigrants,” found that the influx of unskilled, uneducated migrants under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s administration is a net loss for US taxpayers, costing up to $130,000 per migrant over their lifetime if they remain in the country.
The study points out that prior to the recent waves of migration under the current administration, illegal aliens were already a significant burden on American taxpayers, with an estimated net cost of $196,000 per migrant. Di Martino’s analysis differs from the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) claims that migration will reduce the budget deficit by $900 billion because the CBO does not account for the welfare and other benefits provided to immigrants, which are funded by taxpayers and heavily impact the national deficit.
Although Di Martino does not call for an end to immigration altogether, his research indicates that focusing on importing more educated, white-collar migrants would have a positive effect on the deficit. The U.S. could reduce its deficit by $150 billion within just one year of adopting stricter criteria for admitting migrants and continue to save an additional $25 billion each year thereafter. However, allowing millions of poor, uneducated, and unskilled migrants into the country is not a wise policy choice.
Former President Donald Trump has expressed his intent to significantly increase deportations if he were to return to the White House, even suggesting that the National Guard could be utilized to manage an expanded deportation system. Polls have shown strong public support for increasing deportations of illegal border crossers (62% in June) and a belief that uncontrolled migration poses a critical threat to the United States (50% respondents in August.
Contrary to critics’ claims, Di Martino argues that mass deportations would not be a disaster. His study shows that deporting large numbers of unskilled, uneducated (and often dangerous) illegals could potentially reduce the federal debt by over $1 trillion in the long run. Moreover, if combined with legalization for college-educated Dreamers, this policy could potentially save the U.S. government nearly $2 trillion or almost double the savings from mass deportations alone.
As the national deficit continues to rise and the border remains open, Di Martino emphasizes that it is crucial for America not to ignore the fiscal consequences of immigration policies.