I got into a conversation with another student who was ranting about how illegal immigrants come to this country with multitudes of children steal work and pay no taxes and I just couldn't take it any more and decided to school him on the whole issue of illegal immigrants and taxes. The conversation started like this:
So you're telling me they no taxes ever for anything?
Yes. That's right and it's totally unfair.
Ok, do these immigrants drive cars that require gas?
Yes
So they are paying gasoline taxes just like you and I. Do they buy cigarettes, food, and drinks at the same gas station?
Well, yeah
Then they pay the same taxes you and I do. The same thing when they shop at Walmart. Unless you're telling me, their illegal status exempts them from paying taxes at the check out line. You aren't saying that right?
NO
These immigrants you got in mind, probably work on a farm and are paid in cash, so they have no taxes taken out, right and that's totally unfair?
Yeah, you know what I'm talking about.
I do. Here's the thing, migrant farm work pays shit. Assuming you're right about them having multitudes of children, they're making less than 12k a year. Now contrast that with an American who does the same work for the same pay with at least one child - at the end of the tax year, not only do they pay very little income tax, they would get a huge tax refund with a child credit and most of their taxes back.
But wait-
Assuming this same immigrant had a paycheck with taxes taken out, he would never be eligible for a tax refund. Let's keep going with this. Do immigrants pay property taxes?
NO
It's nearly impossible to get a house in this country without a social security number unless you pay cash - migrant workers don't make that kind of money. But let's say they did have a house, are you saying that being an illegal immigrant means the local county government won't assess that property for taxes every year? (silence) Ok, let's assume they are renting. No renter I know of pays taxes, the property owners do. So if they are paying for a place to stay, part of their rent pays taxes.
Oh yeah but what about those immigrants making bank, you know over a 100k a year?
Alright, let's talk about that magical immigrant, if they get a paycheck, they're still having money withheld from their checks for taxes, social security they can never use, and medicare. They've no hope of ever seeing a tax credit for going to school, being married or having "multitudes of children". They're paying into a system that they will never see a benefit to. In fact, they're funding Americans.
It isn't right, it's unfair that they can get a way with it. It's -
It's also unlikely that there are many of the type of immigrants you're pulling outta your ass to win this argument exist.
Well, they don't pay taxes and it's unfair.
I wasn't going to change this dude's mind but I think I might have change the minds of the people who gathered to listen to us.