True North

Illegal immigrants residing in Minnesota cost taxpayers $345 million in state revenues each year. That figure is projected to climb to over $1 billion by 2020 according to research conducted by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). In addition to the state-borne cost of local subsidies and expenses, Minnesotan taxpayers contribute $309 million dollars each year toward federal expenses incurred by illegal immigration. With a total annual cost to Minnesota of around $654 million tax dollars, the average Minnesota household pays $284 per year to subsidize illegal aliens. The price paid by the citizens of Minnesota to subsidize illegal aliens is primarily distributed across expenditures for education, emergency medical care and incarceration. There are myriad other costs associated with illegal immigration, as well. In the city of St. Paul, for example, 85% of subsidized housing is occupied by immigrants (according to author Sanford Ungar in his book, Fresh Blood).  In what amounts to an acknowledgement of its culpability in exacerbating state expenses related to illegal immigration due to inaction, the federal government has established funds to assist states in defraying associated costs. The State Criminal Alien Assistance Program was established to compensate states and local jurisdictions for incarceration of criminal aliens. In 2004, Minnesota received $1.78 million from the federal government under this program. This is only partial compensation, however, as Minnesota’s actual cost of incarcerating criminal aliens was about $13 million in 2004. Emergency treatment of illegal immigrants was estimated to cost Minnesota taxpayers $17 million in 2004. The federal government compensated the state less than 10% of the cost with a payment of $1.4 million. Illegal immigration cost Minnesota’s public school systems an estimated $146 - $276 million in 2004. This expense is borne by local property taxes as well as by the state treasury. While it is true to some extent that some working illegal immigrants pay taxes, the average illegal immigrant household costs the federal government alone $2,700 per year, and the taxes contributed by the average illegal alien household equal only half that amount.While both Minnesota and the United States have been established by and continue to thrive by the infusion of immigrants from all over the world, it is important to make the distinction between legal immigrants and illegal aliens. Immigrants who integrate into society lawfully and become citizens enrich our culture and add to the productivity of the nation. By contrast, illegal aliens who sneak into the US unlawfully and who by definition have no allegiance to our society create a demonstrable and significant drain on our economic resources.Sources: The Impact of Illegal Immigration: Costs and Population Trends (2005 report to the governor's office)FAIR: Immigration's Impact on the US; Extended Immigration Data for MinnesotaTake Action: Sign the Immigration Enforcement Petition.Cross-posted at Minnesota Majority. Comments welcome.