DACA-Eligible Immigrants Paid $3 Billion in Taxes

NEW YORK, NY – While Washington works to find a solution for DREAMers, New American Economy is showcasing the economic contributions and stories that highlight how this population is so critical to our communities. Yesterday, we highlighted the annual income earned by the DACA-eligible population. Today, we spotlight tax contributions: DACA-eligible individuals contribute more than $1.4 billion to federal tax coffers and $1.6 billion in state and local taxes, according to research put out by New American Economy. As Congress works to find an immigration compromise, any solution must take these economic factors into consideration.

NAE’s state-specific research shows that:

• In California and Texas, the states with the two largest DACA-eligible populations, these individuals pay $380.4 million and $258.6 million in state and local taxes, respectively. In 2015, one out of every four DACA-eligible individuals was living in California, while another one out of every six was living in Texas.
• All states, not just those with the largest DACA-eligible populations, see the positive effects of these young immigrants in their coffers. Ohio is home to 10,663 DACA-eligible individuals, who together pay $14.7 million in state and local taxes and $28.8 million in overall taxes.
• Wisconsin, home to 10,561 DACA-eligible immigrants, collects $17.6 million in state and local taxes from its DACA-eligible residents.

In addition to economic research on the DACA-eligible population, New American Economy has collected stories from every single congressional district through imarch.us. Ernestor is a DACA recipient, and he serves as the Interim Human Resource Director and Assistant to the City Manager of Dodge City, Kansas, where he helps oversee a $51.7 million budget. Working to support local business and advocate for city residents, Ernestor understands how important a balanced local budget is—and how taxes paid by hardworking DREAMers keep the city moving. “We came here to work, and to better ourselves, and to have a better life,” he says. “I just hope people can see the positive impact that we’re having.”