Cost of Illegal Immigration by State

Illegal immigration remains a contentious issue in American political discourse, sparking robust debates within the policy sphere. While many discussions focus on the human dimensions of this phenomenon, there is also a compelling need to evaluate its economic implications. Assessing the fiscal burden of illegal immigration involves various complexities, as these costs are often woven into numerous aspects of society such as education, healthcare, law enforcement, and social services. 

A thorough analysis of these costs highlights variances by state, reflecting the distinct demographics, economic conditions, and public policies present in each locale. The cost of illegal immigration is typically quantified as the taxpayer cost per immigrant, a measure that synthesizes the direct and indirect costs associated with unregulated migration.

Key findings from the data include:

• Hawaii tops the list with the highest taxpayer cost per illegal immigrant at $9,178, followed closely by Massachusetts and California, with costs of $7,396 and $7,074, respectively. 
• Conversely, Mississippi reports the lowest taxpayer cost per illegal immigrant at $4,169, hinting at either a lower undocumented population, different resource utilization patterns, or divergent state policies.
• Notwithstanding the extremes, most states experience a taxpayer cost ranging between $4,500 and $6,000 per illegal immigrant. 
• Notably, traditional immigrant-receiving states like California, New York, and Florida feature high on the list, suggesting a correlation between higher costs and larger undocumented immigrant populations.
• Some states with lower immigrant populations, such as Hawaii and Massachusetts, also see elevated costs, prompting further exploration of the state policies, local economic conditions, or immigrant profiles contributing to this scenario.

It's crucial to note that while these figures detail the costs, they don't include the economic benefits contributed by the undocumented immigrants, such as taxes paid or economic activity generated. As such, these numbers should be examined within the broader context of the overall economic impact of immigration.