Democrats have long clung to the argument that deporting illegal immigrants would be an insurmountable financial burden, framing it as an impossible task that would bankrupt taxpayers. But as with many of their fiscal scare tactics, the math just doesn’t add up. This narrative has been repeated so often it’s practically treated as gospel, yet a closer look reveals it’s more about pushing an agenda than crunching real numbers. Deportation isn’t just feasible—it’s necessary to reassert control over a chaotic immigration system.
During a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, an American Immigration Council (AIC) representative pegged the cost of deporting all illegal immigrants at a whopping $316 billion. Unsurprisingly, this figure was quickly embraced by Democrats like Sen. Dick Durbin, who trotted it out as the ultimate deterrent against pursuing serious immigration enforcement. But here’s the catch: experts like John Lott Jr., formerly of the Crime Prevention Research Center, have taken apart this argument. According to Lott, the AIC’s numbers are wildly exaggerated—up to seven times the actual cost, based on historical deportation data. Skepticism, it seems, is more than justified.
What the Democrats conveniently leave out is the cost of doing nothing. The AIC’s bloated estimates rely heavily on inflated numbers for detention and legal expenses, all while ignoring the immense financial strain illegal immigrants place on public resources. Food, housing, healthcare, and other government subsidies quietly pile up, draining taxpayers’ wallets. When you factor these into the equation, the price of deportation starts to look far more reasonable. In reality, leaving the status quo untouched is the far more expensive option, a fact the Democrats seem all too eager to downplay.
Former President Donald Trump and his border czar, Tom Homan, cut through the noise with their no-nonsense approach. For Trump, deportation isn’t about balancing a budget—it’s about upholding the rule of law and ensuring public safety. Whether dealing with dangerous criminals or drug traffickers, his stance is clear: they have no place here, and no fabricated financial hurdle should get in the way of their removal. Homan echoed these sentiments, making it plain that cost shouldn’t deter the government from enforcing immigration laws. It’s the kind of clarity and conviction sorely lacking in the Democrats’ policy playbook.
Ultimately, the real question isn’t whether deportation is too expensive—it’s whether the country can afford not to act. Unchecked illegal immigration doesn’t just strain resources; it undermines public trust and erodes the integrity of the system. The inflated cost estimates pushed by groups like the AIC serve as little more than a political smokescreen, obscuring the long-term benefits of enforcement. When weighed against the savings and societal stability that come with restoring order, the supposed financial burden of deportation becomes yet another exaggerated talking point in the left’s arsenal of half-truths.
