A study by the Manhattan Institute reveals that mass deportation of unskilled criminal aliens could have a positive impact on America’s national deficit. Researcher Daniel Di Martino’s analysis shows that removing these individuals could save taxpayers trillions over the long term.
The report explains that illegal immigrants who cross the border without proper vetting cost U.S. taxpayers an average of $130,000 over their lifetimes, primarily because nearly 90% lack higher education. For older criminal aliens, that figure rises to $196,000, making them a significant burden on public resources. Deporting these individuals, Di Martino argues, would eliminate these costs entirely.
If the current immigration policy continues unchanged, U.S. taxpayers are expected to pay over $1.1 trillion in the coming decades. Di Martino’s research suggests that this could be avoided through mass deportations, which would drastically cut these long-term expenses.
The study also challenges the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) projection that illegal immigration would reduce the deficit by $900 billion over the next 10 years. Di Martino notes that the CBO’s estimate fails to consider long-term costs like healthcare, retirement benefits, and public services such as education and safety.
Di Martino also points out that legal immigrants with higher education make a positive contribution to the economy, reducing the deficit by more than $300,000 per person. He argues that a more selective immigration policy, favoring highly educated individuals while deporting unskilled illegal immigrants, could result in savings of $1.9 trillion.
As President Donald Trump continues to push for mass deportations, a majority of Americans support his plan, according to a recent poll that shows 54% backing the proposal.
