The Impact of Illegal Immigration on Minnesota

The Impact of Illegal Immigration on Minnesota
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The Impact of Illegal Immigration on Minnesota

This is good! We need the individual States need to apply what they know and tell the public! When the States come forward with their facts then the Government can't hide the truth and will have to take action!

The Impact of Illegal Immigration on Minnesota
Category: News and Politics


This is an abstract ftom a report from the state of Minnesota on the cost of Illegal Immigration of the state.

This report in the preface admits: "This report does not consider any of the benefits illegal immigrants provide in areas such as labor or tax revenue. More information will be forthcoming on several other topics related to the challenges and opportunities that illegal immigrants bring to Minnesota."

To see the full report please go to:

http://www.state.mn.us/mn/externalDocs/Administration/Report_The_Impact_of_Illegal_Immigration_on_Minnesota_120805035315_Illegal%20Immigration%20Brief%2026.pdf



I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Minnesota's illegal immigrant population is increasing. According to recent estimates, there are 80,000 to 85,000 illegal immigrants in Minnesota.1 The number of illegal immigrants skyrocketed throughout the 1990s and continues to increase.2 Minnesota's illegal immigrant population is greater than at least 20 other states.3

This population poses a substantial challenge to Minnesota. The illegal immigration challenge includes: (1) a financial strain on state resources, and (2) societal impacts, such as crime and economic loss.

In Minnesota, illegal immigration has the greatest cost impact on the K-12 education system, where over 14,000 children of illegal immigrants are educated. In addition, despite the Minnesota legislature's reforms in 2003 that significantly limited the benefits for illegal immigrants, they continue to utilize publicly-provided social services.

Another fiscal consideration is the costs associated with crimes illegal immigrants commit. The costs resulting from apprehension, prosecution and incarceration are considerable. In addition, there are other costs to society associated with these criminal acts.

The following chart provides an overview of the state costs:

..> Program Area
Illegal Immigrants' Cost Impact to Minnesota

K-12 Public Education
$118-$158 million (for FY 2004)4

Public Assistance Health Care Programs
$17 million (for FY 2005)5

Incarceration
$13 million (for FY 2005)6

Total
$148-188 million

..>

Offsetting these costs, there are approximately 8,000 illegal immigrants who file state income taxes to replenish state resources.7 Illegal immigrants also pay taxes by employer withholdings. Because they do not file tax returns, these funds are kept by the state and federal government resulting in "stranded withholdings." Although some argue that the value of these withholdings is significant, the exact dollar amount attributable to illegal immigrants is unknown.

Office of Strategic Planning & Results Management Page 5 of 21 December 8, 2005

In addition to financial costs to the state, illegal immigration incurs significant costs to society. These costs come in various forms. In the area of health care, illegal immigrants – who are largely uninsured – utilize emergency services and other health care, which increases uncompensated care costs.8 In the area of public safety, many illegal immigrants are committing crimes: 1,571 criminal aliens were deported from the St. Paul Midwest area of operations in FY 2004, and over 500 remain in state prisons.9 In addition, illegal immigrants arguably displace American workers, which contributes to lost jobs and wages.10

Recently, there has been considerable debate nationally on the issue of illegal immigration. This report illuminates the changing landscape of Minnesota's illegal immigrant population and the costs associated with this unique population.

_______________________________________________________________

II. INTRODUCTION

Illegal immigrants are foreign-born people who are in this country without the proper authorization. They don't have a valid visa or other necessary documentation to be here legally.11 Some of the other terms used to refer to illegal immigrants include: "undocumented immigrants," "undocumented migrants," "undocumented aliens," and "illegal aliens."12

In addition to the term "illegal immigrant," another term frequently used is "noncitizen." A noncitizen is not necessarily an illegal immigrant. A noncitizen is anyone residing in this country who is not a citizen of the United States. The term noncitizen refers to various foreign-born people who are in this country temporarily or permanently, legally or illegally.13

Typically, illegal immigrants are in the country because they have entered the country in an unauthorized manner, they have overstayed their nonimmigrant visas, or they have otherwise violated the terms under which they were admitted to the country.14 Office of Strategic Planning & Results Management Page 6 of 21 December 8, 2005

According to estimates by the Pew Hispanic Center, as of March 2004, there were an estimated 10.3 million unauthorized migrants living in the United States. The undocumented population has grown rapidly in recent years. There were 8.4 million unauthorized migrants living in the United States in April 2000. The average annual growth over this four-year period was about 485,000 per year. Assuming the growth continued at the same rate, the Pew Hispanic Center's estimate for

March 2005 is somewhat less than 11 million for the number of undocumented residents in the United States.15

According to various estimates, Minnesota's illegal immigrant population is significant. In 2004, there were between 80,000 and 85,000 illegal immigrants in Minnesota.16 This illegal immigrant population level puts Minnesota higher than at least 20 other states.17

In addition, Minnesota's illegal immigrant population is increasing. In 2000, there were 60,000 undocumented immigrants in Minnesota, and in 1990, there were 13,000.18 So since 1990, the population has increased 515%, from 13,000 to at least 80,000. The Midwest is considered a "high-growth" region for undocumented immigrants.19

The growing number of undocumented immigrants in Minnesota can be viewed as part of a national trend. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, since the mid-1990s the most rapid growth in the undocumented immigrant population has taken place in new settlement areas where previously they had been a relatively small presence. In 1990, about 88% of the undocumented population lived in only six states – California. New York, Texas, Illinois, Florida and New Jersey. However, by 2004, only 61% of the undocumented population lived in those six states.20 The following figures further detail this phenomenon.21

Office of Strategic Planning & Results Management Page 7 of 21 December 8, 2005