Immigration vs. Illegal Immigration: A Centrist Perspective
By The Centrist
Few issues divide Americans more than immigration—but what we’re really debating isn’t immigration itself. It’s illegal immigration.
The United States is a nation of immigrants. We have thrived because of hard-working, law-abiding individuals who came here legally, seeking a better life and contributing to our economy and society. But when millions of people enter the country illegally, it creates economic, social, and security challenges that affect all of us—especially legal citizens who play by the rules.
As a centrist, I believe in a strong but fair immigration system—one that welcomes legal immigrants while ensuring that illegal immigration doesn’t become an unchecked burden on our society.
Legal Immigration: The Backbone of America
Legal immigration has always been a driving force in the success of the U.S. It brings:
✔ Skilled workers to fill gaps in our workforce.
✔ Entrepreneurs who create businesses and jobs.
✔ Diversity and innovation, making us stronger as a nation.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, around 45 million people in the U.S. are foreign-born, making up about 13.7% of the total population. The vast majority of them came legally and contribute positively to the economy.
🟢 Centrists support legal immigration because it strengthens the country and ensures that newcomers integrate into our system without overwhelming public resources.
Illegal Immigration: The Economic Drain
Illegal immigration, however, creates significant financial burdens on U.S. taxpayers. While it’s difficult to measure exact costs, here are some undeniable realities:
🔴 Healthcare Costs – Many illegal immigrants use emergency medical services without paying, shifting costs onto hospitals and insured citizens.
🔴 Auto Insurance & Accidents – Uninsured illegal immigrants create a burden on insured drivers, increasing overall premiums.
🔴 Public Education Costs – Illegal immigrants’ children receive free public education, which places additional strain on school districts.
🔴 Wage Imbalances – Many illegal immigrants are paid in cash, avoiding taxes, undercutting wages, and creating an unfair advantage for businesses that exploit cheap labor.
Now, let’s visualize some of these key economic impacts.
Illegal Immigration’s Cost to U.S. Taxpayers
Studies estimate that illegal immigration costs U.S. taxpayers between $100 billion and $150 billion per year after accounting for welfare, education, healthcare, and law enforcement expenses. Let’s look at a breakdown:
Annual Cost of Illegal Immigration in the U.S.
Estimated Annual Cost of Illegal Immigration to U.S. Taxpayers (in Billions)
Percentage of Illegal Immigrants Working in Cash-Based Industries
Here is a bar chart showing the estimated percentage of illegal immigrants working in cash-based industries. This visual supports the argument that many undocumented workers operate outside the tax system, creating economic imbalances.
Wage Disparity: Legal vs. Illegal Workers (Hourly Wages in USD)
Here is a bar chart comparing the hourly wages of legal vs. illegal workers across different industries. This visualization highlights how undocumented laborers are often paid significantly less, creating wage imbalances that can undercut businesses that follow labor laws.