A Hidden Tax: What Americans Are Really Paying for Illegal Immigration
This entire exercise is a thought experiment, an attempt to look at illegal immigration through the lens of simplicity. Regardless of whether the numbers are distorted, underinflated, or politically manipulated, the point remains: the cost to the U.S. taxpayer is enormous. It takes away from their children’s future, their retirement security, and their ability to pay monthly bills. This is not a partisan rant, it’s a segmented breakdown of a quiet crisis.
In a time when families are tightening budgets and questioning every dollar spent, one cost remains largely invisible, yet it drains billions from our economy and erodes the moral foundation of our republic. That cost is illegal immigration. Not the emotional narrative, not the political theater, but the real, measurable, taxpayer-funded burden that most Americans haven’t been told they’re carrying.
Let’s start with the numbers. Conservative estimates suggest there are over 20 million illegal immigrants currently residing in the United States. Now consider what it costs to support a family of four in America. Between housing, healthcare, education, food, and transportation, the average annual cost ranges from $85,000 to $100,000. Even if illegal immigrant households receive only a fraction of these services, the cumulative cost is staggering. According to recent data, the federal government spends roughly $150 billion annually on illegal immigration, net of tax contributions. State and local governments add another $140 to $180 billion. That’s a combined total of up to $330 billion per year, which many believe is much higher.
Divide that by the number of U.S.........





















Toi Staff
Gideon Levy
Tarik Cyril Amar
Mort Laitner
Stefano Lusa
Mark Travers Ph.d
Andrew Silow-Carroll
Robert Sarner
Constantin Von Hoffmeister