Mass Deportations: The Billion-Dollar Cost of the Policy

The federal government’s strategy of mass expulsions could cost more than 268.9 billion dollars through 2029. That amount equals an average cost of 2,358 dollars per each American taxpayer during the presidential term.

The calculation was published by the National Priorities Project (NPP), an initiative of the Institute for Policy Studies. The organization collaborated with the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) to launch an interactive calculator on the fiscal spending of deportations. The tool seeks to show the impact of migration policy on the finances of states, counties, and municipalities across the country.

How Much Do Cities Pay for Deportations?

The study distributes total spending according to the proportion of federal income taxes paid by each community. For this reason, large cities with high incomes and high tax collection assume the highest portions of the migration control budget. New York City would lead spending with more than 9.814 billion dollars, which represents about 3,544 dollars per taxpayer.

Los Angeles would contribute more than 4.145 billion dollars to this strategy, with an average burden of 3,283 dollars for each tax filer. In Chicago, the cumulative cost would reach 2.441 billion dollars, while Houston taxpayers would pay together 2.377 billion dollars. The tool from the Economic Policy Institute allows searching the exact fiscal impact by zip code and congressional district across the country.

The report details that the money allocated to immigration law enforcement comes from budget laws, agency transfers, and recent legislative packages. Researchers point out that these funds finance the hiring of agents, the expansion of private detention centers, and international removal flights.

What Other Programs Could That Money Be Invested In?

The report compares the 268.9 billion dollars with unmet needs in health, education, housing, and essential services. The authors explain that resources destined for deportation could be used to finance programs that directly benefit working families. For example, those resources would be enough to cover the salary of more than 925,000 school teachers for two and a half years.

They could also guarantee medical coverage for nearly 12 million people through Medicaid or finance more than 9.7 million public housing units. The contrast becomes relevant at a moment of economic pressure for households, where inflation and housing lead family concerns.

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