Tax Contributions
Do undocumented immigrants pay taxes?
Undocumented immigrants play a crucial role in the U.S. economy, not only through their labor but also through substantial tax contributions that support public services and government programs. In 2023, households led by undocumented immigrants paid $89.8B in total taxes. This includes:- $33.9B in state and local taxes and $55.8B in federal taxes.
- In 2023, approximately 4.9% of the U.S. workforce was undocumented.
- 89.4% of undocumented immigrants are of working age.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Noncitizens and Across the U.S. Immigration System
This report identifies disruptions throughout the immigration system because of the COVID-19 pandemic and makes recommendations for improvements to the federal government’s response. Read More

New Census Data Show Immigrants Complement Natives in the US Workforce
Every year, the Census Bureau releases new data from its American Community Survey (ACS), which contains a wealth of information about the characteristics of the U.S. population. Without fail, this data always underscores the significant extent to which immigrants contribute to the U.S. economy. The 2017 data—released… Read More

Yes, All Immigrants – Even Undocumented – Pay Billions in Taxes Each Year
Immigrants—both documented and undocumented—contribute billions of dollars in taxes to the United States every year. Immigrants who are authorized to work in the United States file the same taxes as any U.S.-native including local, state, and federal taxes. Unauthorized immigrants pay taxes as well, often using the Individual… Read More

Fewer International Students Are Choosing to Study in the United States
Fewer international students came to the United States in 2017 to continue their studies, leaving American universities less diverse and financially solvent. There is no doubt that international competition for the world’s most promising students is fierce. Canada and China are competing with the United States… Read More

DACA Termination Affects Thousands on a Daily Basis
In the months following the government’s decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, more than 8,500 young immigrants have already lost their protection from deportation. Without DACA, immigrants who have been in the country since they were children lose protections that have enabled them to… Read More

How Many People Are at Risk of Losing Their Temporary Protected Status?
Over 300,000 individuals who currently have legal status could lose it if their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is terminated over the course of the next year. Nationals of ten countries who have been living and working in the United States under this protected status are facing the threat of… Read More

Refugees Contribute More In Taxes Than They Ever Receive in Benefits
Refugee resettlement has long been a cornerstone of United States foreign policy, but in the first weeks of the Trump administration, the president attempted to suspend the decades-long program in favor of a more isolationist approach. One reason the president gave for wanting to temporarily bar the world’s refugees was… Read More
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