This could be Donald Trump's most costly mistake. He may have deprived the U.S. of tens of billions of dollars by his fierceness. "A immense gap in the budget"

What sounds absurd at first is reality in the United States. Many illegal immigrants there hope that, by paying taxes, they will increase their chances of obtaining permanent residence in that country. Immigration government has repeatedly included provisions which included "good character" or "regulating late taxes" as conditions for obtaining the right of residence.

The fact that people without a right of residence in the US can pay taxes there is possible thanks to the existence of something specified as the individual recognition number of the taxpayer, a peculiar taxation number for foreigners. In this way, taxes are paid by people who are not U.S. citizens, but are legally resident in the country, as well as illegal immigrants.

Considerable amounts are involved: the American Immigration Council — a nonprofit organization from Washington — estimates that In 2022, around 10.7 million irregular immigrants paid taxes worth over $75 billion (about PLN 288 billion). The Institute of Taxation and economical Policy (Itep) states that the amount of taxes paid by illegal immigrants can be higher and up to 96.7 billion dollars (about 372 billion PLN).

"Federal, state and local authorities in the United States impose various taxes, most of them someway affect illegal immigrants," Carl Davis, head of investigation at Itep, wrote in a fresh analysis. He noted that it was not just about income taxes and wages. "Like their American neighbors, illegal immigrants besides pay taxes on the sale and consumption of goods or services," he added.

"Immigration has always been an crucial part of the past of the United States"

Organisations inform that if Trump actually fulfills his electoral promises on migration policy, This could make a multibillion dollar gap in the US budget and in the social safety system. "Despite undocumented status, these immigrants bring added value to the American economy," wrote the American Immigration Council.

With respect to national income, taxes paid by illegal immigrants are 1.2%. Mass deportations would so be “a very costly and economically damaging mistake,” the organization wrote. Experts from Itep estimation that if illegal workers were given a work permit, their taxes would most likely increase even more — by $40.2 billion (PLN 154 billion) a year, reaching a full of $113.9 billion (526 billion). Finally, legalization of residence would not only increase immigrant earnings but besides their taxation obligations.

However, many Republicans refuse to accept these calculations. — Illegal immigrants mean a deficit for the state Treasury. They receive more state benefits than they pay taxes," said Steven Camarota, investigation manager at the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington.

He pointed out that although there is simply a advanced level of labour participation among illegal immigrants, he usually had a low level of education. That's what makes them inexpensive and pay lower taxes. — This besides means that a large proportion of them are entitled to receive social benefits, which they frequently receive on behalf of their children born in the United States. Taxes paid by illegal immigrants are incapable to cover their costs,” added Camarota.

Many experts, including Carl Davis, disagree. The investigator notes that illegal immigrants frequently pay taxes to finance programmes in which they cannot even participate. "Immigration has always been an crucial part of the past of the United States" “The Itep expert wrote. But not everyone sees it.

Kristi Noah was pleased with the action taken last Tuesday of January. As part of them, she caught, among others, the leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Noah knew right distant who to thank. “Thanks a lot to our brave law enforcement officers,” she said.