Immigration policies supported by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) could cost American taxpayers between $440 billion and $613 billion over the next decade, according to a new White House economic report. The Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) report suggests that mass amnesty and expanded federal benefits associated with these policies could lead to substantial financial consequences.
The report estimates that each illegal immigrant carries a lifetime net fiscal cost of $166,716. With the current illegal immigrant population, this could amount to between $1.4 trillion and $1.9 trillion in taxpayer costs under the CEA's model. These figures are presented as the "true costs of extreme open borders [and] mass-amnesty socialist policies."
Beyond the cost of amnesty, the report examines the potential impact of expanded federal benefits and reduced immigration enforcement. It estimates that increased eligibility for programs like SNAP, federal housing assistance, and Medicaid could add between $361 billion and $475 billion in federal spending over the next decade. Specifically, annual food stamp costs could rise by $3.6 billion to $4.7 billion, federal housing assistance by $2.3 billion to $3 billion, and Medicaid spending by up to $40 billion annually.
The White House is framing the DSA's immigration agenda as a potential financial and public safety threat, particularly as Democrats campaign on affordability. The administration argues that these policies could exacerbate existing cost-of-living pressures that Republicans have criticized.
The CEA's estimated lifetime taxpayer cost per illegal immigrant is higher than the approximate cost of four years of public university education for a student, including tuition, housing, and other expenses. The report also notes that while illegal immigrants are generally prohibited from federal benefit programs, some on the left advocate for providing subsidized healthcare and programs like food stamps to those in the country unlawfully.
The administration highlights that ending Trump-era immigration enforcement measures could eliminate between $227 billion and $287 billion in projected taxpayer savings. After accounting for reduced enforcement spending, this would result in a net estimated cost of $79 billion to $139 billion over the next decade.
In addition to the immigration-specific findings, a broader White House webpage estimates that the DSA's overall agenda could cost $49 trillion over ten years. The administration has also pointed to increased drug interdictions and declining fentanyl-related deaths as evidence of its border enforcement strategy. The report notes efforts to modify Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations and revoke visas as part of a broader immigration crackdown aimed at reducing taxpayer costs.