False information that immigrants do not pay taxes or consume public resources is not only untrue but also harmful to social cohesion.
Watch: Governor Greg Abbott’s full speech at the 2024 RNC
Texas Governor Greg Abbott delivers a speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
No matter what political nonsense you hear about immigration – legal or otherwise – the truth is: America needs more immigrants, with or without documentation.
If you’re not angry after reading the previous sentence, hold my beer. Immigrants who come to America boost our economy. And illegal immigrants in the United States play an amazing role in strengthening the nation through their significant tax contributions.
Yes, they pay taxes, lots of taxes, nearly $100 billion in 2022.
These payments fund critical public services and immigrants’ path to legal status. Misinformation about illegal immigrants in America is harmful, leading to stereotypes and policies that hurt not only immigrants, but Americans and businesses as well.
Numbers prove that both Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott are wrong
When Donald Trump began his presidential campaign in 2015, he frequently boasted that illegal immigrants brought with them “drugs, crime and rapists” to appeal to his eventual MAGA following. It was not the first time, nor will it be the last, that Trump and other Republicans attacked illegal immigrants.
False claims that undocumented immigrants are more likely to commit crimes than citizens or pose a threat to public health help promote border security measures that put migrants’ lives far more at risk than ours.
Laken Riley’s death made headlines, but here is the true story about undocumented migrants
And here’s a truth Abbott failed to acknowledge: According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, undocumented immigrants in Texas paid $4.9 billion in state and local taxes in 2022.
That was more than the total taxes collected in Texas on alcohol, cigarettes/tobacco, hotel stays and utilities.
Illegal immigrants pay taxes on goods and services, on homes they own or rent, and on their income. This money helps fund essential services such as education and health care.
The National Origins Quota Act of 1924 is to blame: Trump and Biden blame each other for illegal immigration. But Congress caused it.
Lies about immigrants harm our nation
False information that immigrants do not pay taxes or consume public resources is not only untrue but also harmful to social cohesion.
These misconceptions lead to unfair policies and distract from real problems. Ultimately, they harm us all by undermining the economic and social contributions of immigrant communities.
Since its founding, America has provided a home for immigrants, both legal and illegal, and recognizing and appreciating their contributions is the right thing to do.
The same goes for promoting a more inclusive and fairer immigration system that benefits everyone.
Marla Bautista is a military columnist for USA TODAY Opinion.
