Illegal Immigration and the Tax Burden on California Citizens

The state of California possesses nearly 32% of the illegal immigrant population in the

United States. The debate of our border with neighboring Mexico has grown into one of

the biggest issues facing the United States in the last few years. Unfortunately, there has

been no reform in our border policy and as a result California citizens suffer more

economic burden each year this problem continues. Education, medical care, and

incarceration of illegal aliens are costing the California taxpayer 10.5 billion dollars per

year and that is not even taking into consideration welfare and other government

assistance programs. California citizens are continuing to suffer the expenses of illegal

immigrants because of the failure of the U.S. government to secure our borders.

Educating children of illegal immigrant families costs the state of California 7.7

billion dollars per year with illegal immigrants making up about 15% of students in

kindergarten through 12th grade. California also allows illegal immigrants to pay in state

college tuition costs saving the student thousands of dollars in tuition costs. Supporters

say helping illegal immigrants reach their full potential and become more productive

taxpayers of society. However, according to the Illegal immigration reform and

immigrant responsibility act of 1996 this practice of allowing illegal immigrants this

break in tuition costs is illegal if not also offered to U.S. citizens.

California taxpayers are funding the health care for illegal immigrants costing a

estimated 1.4 billion dollars per year. The state ranks first in the funding of medical care

for illegal immigrants with emergency room visits and extended health care spending. .

The hospitals must provide care for these illegal aliens regardless of their illegal

citizenship status. One of the largest expenditures of medical care is the birth of

approximately 300,000 to 350,000 babies of illegal immigrants per year in California

that are then automatically granted citizenship of the United States.

Illegal immigrants constitute 40% of California’s prison system population with a

total cost of 1.4 billion dollars per year. Once these criminals are let out of the prison

system they are not sent back to their own country instead they are released amongst the