Immigrants, US-born children of immigrants generated more revenue than costs every year

Immigrants and their children, benefits received and taxes paid, 1994–2023

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Sources: Calculations are based primarily on the Annual Social and Economic Supplements of the US Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey for March 1994–2023; and “National Data: National Income and Product Accounts,” Bureau of Economic Analysis, last revised September 2025. For full details: Bier, David J., Michael Howard, and Julián Salazar. “Immigrants’ Recent Effects on Government Budgets: 1994–2023,” White Paper, Cato Institute, February 3, 2026.  
Note: All amounts are in inflation-adjusted 2024 dollars.