A new study from the Manhattan Institute reveals that mass deportations of unskilled criminal aliens could drastically reduce the U.S. national deficit. Researcher Daniel Di Martino found that deporting these individuals would save American taxpayers a substantial amount over time.
Di Martino’s research shows that illegal immigrants cost U.S. taxpayers between $130,000 and $196,000 over their lifetimes, depending on how long they have been in the country. He argues that deporting these individuals would reduce the financial burden on taxpayers, potentially saving over $1.1 trillion in the next 70 years.
While the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has suggested that continued illegal immigration would reduce the budget deficit by $900 billion over the next decade, Di Martino disagrees with their analysis. He points out that the CBO fails to consider long-term costs like public services, healthcare, and entitlement programs, which significantly add to the deficit.
Di Martino also highlights the economic benefits of legal, highly educated immigrants, who he says reduce the deficit by over $300,000 each. These individuals tend to contribute more to the economy through higher taxes and lower reliance on government programs.
He suggests that a more selective immigration policy—focusing on educated immigrants—combined with mass deportation, could help the U.S. reduce its deficit by $1.9 trillion.
As President Donald Trump continues to push for mass deportations, a recent poll shows that the majority of Americans support his plan. According to the survey, 54% of respondents back the policy, including a significant portion of Republicans and independents.
