New York Budget Crisis Would be Lessened by Combating Illegal Immigration

(Washington, D.C. February 2, 2009) New York state lawmakers now grappling with a $1.7 billion budget deficit for 2008-2009 and a looming $15 billon shortfall predicted for the 2009-2010 session, were advised three years ago of the mounting costs of illegal immigration in the state. In 2006, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) issued a study of the fiscal cost of illegal immigration to New Yorkers. At that time, the cost to the state’s taxpayers was $5.155 billion dollars a year. That estimate included the cost of educating the children of illegal aliens both those illegally in the country and those born here in K-12 public schools, emergency medical care, and incarceration of criminal aliens.

While these annual costs for illegal immigration have been steadily draining New York’s budget, the costs have risen and are placing an even greater strain on the state’s resources in 2009. The 2006 cost estimate was based on an illegal alien population estimated at 645,000. Today, FAIR estimates New York’s illegal alien population has grown to 1,000,000 persons, a 55 percent increase. As a result of both the continued growth in the illegal alien population and the higher cost of governmental services, the current fiscal cost outlays for the illegal alien population in New York are now approaching $8.4 billion annually more than half the projected shortfall for next year.

“Addressing New York’s budget crisis requires that state officials acknowledge the real cost of illegal immigration,” said Dan Stein, President of FAIR. “A big chunk of the state deficit could be lessened over time if the state adopted measures that effectively complemented federal efforts to deter illegal immigration.”

“The crisis is even more dramatic in New York City where a $4 billion budget gap is forcing Mayor Bloomberg to consider reducing payrolls by 23,000 workers and imposing an increase in sales taxes. During a period when New Yorkers are facing job losses, increased taxes, and seeing vital state services reduced or eliminated, it is irresponsible for state officials to look away while employers profit from illegal workers who have no right to seek employment, residence and most benefits in the state. New York’s policymakers have a clear obligation to not ignore the budget-busting costs of illegal immigration and adopt polices that protect the interests of law-abiding residents,” observed Stein.