Congress is in the midst of the most dramatic overhaul of our nationÂ’s immigration laws in 80 years. So why is hardly anyone asking the basic question: How might this affect government costs?In the case of the immigration bill passed in the Senate, a measure sponsored by Senators Mel Martinez (R.-Fla.) and Chuck Hagel (R.-Neb.), we have an answer: It would raise them substantially.
The bill would grant amnesty to about 10 million illegal immigrants and put them on a path to citizenship. Once they become citizens, the net additional cost to the federal government of benefits for these individuals will be around $16 billion per year. The bill would also spur a rapid new flow of low-skill immigrants with its program for “guest workers” (for life, that is) and other provisions.