Gemini on the cost to deport each immigrant and the economic losses associated with deportation in mass deportation. There is no cost benefit to this program, and it could be a massive economic drag.
The average government cost to arrest, detain, and deport one immigrant is estimated to be between
$17,000 and over $70,000, with studies indicating that mass deportations would result in significant economic losses to the U.S. economy, including reduced GDP, job losses for U.S.-born workers, and lost tax revenue.
Cost to Arrest, Detain, and Deport
Estimates for the cost of removing a single individual vary depending on the methodology used and the length of detention:
- DHS Estimate: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reports an average cost of at least $17,121 to arrest, detain, and remove one person.
- Comprehensive Estimates: More detailed, independent studies cited by the Penn Wharton Budget Model and the American Immigration Council place the average cost higher, ranging from approximately $30,600 to over $109,880, with an average of around $70,236 per deportee. The primary variable in these higher estimates is the cost associated with detention time and legal processing.
- Daily Detention Costs: The average daily cost of holding an individual in an immigration detention facility is approximately $152 to $237 per day, while alternatives to detention programs cost significantly less, ranging from under $1 to around $17 per person per day.
Economic Loss for Each Immigrant Deported
Deporting immigrants results in substantial economic losses, primarily due to the removal of workers and consumers from the economy and loss of tax revenue.
- GDP Reduction: Mass deportations are projected to reduce the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by as much as 4.2% to 7.4%. This potential loss over a decade could total trillions of dollars (e.g., $1.1 trillion to $1.7 trillion in losses for a long-term deportation policy).
- Job Losses for U.S.-Born Workers: Contrary to the idea that deportations create jobs for U.S.-born workers, studies have found that past deportations have reduced both employment and wages for U.S.-born workers in affected sectors, such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality. The loss of immigrant labor disrupts supply chains and reduces local consumption, impacting the overall economy.
- Lost Tax Revenue and Contributions: Undocumented immigrant households contribute significantly to federal, state, and local taxes. Studies estimate they pay billions of dollars annually into Social Security and Medicare programs, which they are often ineligible to receive benefits from.
- Household Income Loss: For mixed-status families (those with both U.S. citizens and undocumented immigrants), the deportation of an undocumented family member could slash household income by an average of over 60%, plunging millions of U.S. citizen children into poverty.
Overall, the economic consensus among researchers is that mass deportations would have a significant negative impact on the U.S. economy, labor market, and public finances. |
