New York City Spends $308 Million on Illegal Immigrant Resources; National Spending Surges.
WASHINGTON (TND) — Recent figures from New York City reveal that taxpayers have spent $308 million on resources for illegal immigrants since July 1. The city is projected to spend around $10 billion over the next three years on these efforts.
New York City’s expenditures for illegal immigrants reflect a broader trend across the United States. Many states are investing billions of dollars to support their new, unexpected residents.
Research by the nonpartisan Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) highlights that California is the highest spender on illegal immigrants, having allocated approximately $22 billion in 2022. Texas follows with around $9 billion, with Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois also among the top spenders.
Federal contributions to these costs total around $66 billion, while states have spent about $115 billion. Despite this, illegal immigrants have contributed approximately $31 billion in taxes, resulting in a net fiscal burden of about $150 billion annually for American taxpayers.
The majority of these funds are directed toward social services. In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams reported that expenditures include $1.98 billion on housing and rent, about $2 billion on various services and supplies, nearly $500 million on food and medical care, and an additional $500 million on IT and administrative costs.
In California, the state has invested around $22 billion in benefits and services for illegal immigrants, with efforts continuing to expand. Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed legislation extending low- or no-cost Medi-Cal benefits, and new proposals are under consideration to provide cash assistance to elderly illegal immigrants. Additional benefits in California include K-12 education, indigent medical care, housing, nutrition assistance, and in-state tuition for public colleges and universities.