Washington, D.C. (September 26, 2024) — Steven Camarota, the Center for Immigration Studies Director of Research, testified today at a hearing titled “ The Border Crisis: The Cost of Chaos”, held before the U.S. House Oversight and Accountability Committee, Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs. His testimony highlighted the impact of illegal immigration on key aspects of American life, including housing affordability, fiscal strain, and the labor market.
Key points from Camarota’s testimony:
Illegal Immigration Trends:
- 5.6 million illegal immigrants have been released into the U.S. since January 2021.
- 1.7 million "got-aways" were observed crossing the border from FY2021 to FY2023.
Housing Affordability:
- A 5% increase in a city's immigrant population is linked to a 12% rise in rent for U.S.-born households, relative to income — exacerbating housing crises in many regions.
Fiscal Impact:
- The lifetime fiscal drain per illegal immigrant is estimated at $68,000, primarily due to lower educational attainment and higher welfare use.
Labor Market Impact:
- Immigration (legal and illegal) negatively affects wages and job availability for some U.S.-born workers, particularly the less educated. However, distinguishing the specific impact of illegal is difficult.
- In 2024, one in three U.S.-born men (16-64) with no education beyond high school are not in the labor force.
- The decline in working-class men’s labor force participation is partly linked to job competition with illegal immigrants.
- Large-scale immigration allows employers and policymakers to ignore the low labor force participation, which is linked to significant social pathologies such as crime, alcoholism, and suicide.
Response to a question on wages, Camarota replied, “Increasing supply makes employers happy but depresses wages.” He concluded his testimony by urging lawmakers to address the broader consequences of illegal immigration on the American workforce and society.
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