A new study by the nonpartisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy finds that DACA-eligible immigrants—the same young people that Donald Trump has repeatedly targeted for arrest and deportation despite his claims that he’s leaving them alone—contribute $2 billion annually in state and local taxes:
“Within the last year, immigration policy has become a far more divisive political issue with public discourse often overlooking the tremendous economic, fiscal and societal contributions of immigrants, and in particular young immigrants,” said Meg Wiehe, deputy director of ITEP. “We produced this report and our larger report on undocumented immigrants’ tax contributions to help ensure the debate is more fact-driven.
“The fact is that the overwhelming majority of young, undocumented immigrants are working or pursuing education,” Wiehe added. “They also are contributing to their communities and paying state and local taxes.”
According to Latino USA, “the ITEP study also signaled that the $2 billion could drop by almost 50 percent if DACA were to be repealed,” which Trump repeatedly promised to do throughout his campaign. Now that he’s assumed the presidency despite losing the popular vote, these young immigrants are not one bit reassured by his claim that he’s “not after the Dreamers,” but “after the criminals.” Just ask Sthefany, Daniel, and Daniela what they think:
Last week, ICE told honor roll student Sthefany Flores, a North Carolina Dreamer with active DACA status and no criminal record, to prepare for deportation in what turned out to be the government’s own screw-up. Last month, Seattle Dreamer Daniel Medina was released after six weeks in custody, despite having no criminal record and active DACA. Officials again lied and falsely claimed he had gang affiliations. Around the same time, Mississippi Dreamer Daniela Vargas was arrested by ICE after participating in a press conference denouncing deportations. “None of these trends make Dreamers feel safe,” notes Planas.
“No matter what Donald Trump and his anti-’illegal’ immigrant supporters may think, there is plenty of evidence pointing to the fact that undocumented immigrants like my parents are just as American as anybody else—especially when it comes to fulfilling our responsibility of diligently paying our taxes on a regular basis,” Juan Escalante, a Florida Dreamer and DACA recipient, recently wrote.
”I am an undocumented immigrant, and unlike President Trump, I am willing to show my tax returns. Will the president of the United States of America demonstrate that he contributes his fair share just like undocumented immigrants like me?”
A-freakin’-men.