New Report Exposes Massive Financial Burden of Illegal Immigration on Mississippi

Illegal immigration could be costing Mississippi more than $100 million each year, according to a new report from Mississippi State Auditor Shad White. The report highlights the significant financial burden illegal immigration places on the state's education, healthcare, and public safety systems, offering a sobering look at the real-world impact of the federal government's failure to secure the border.

State Auditor Shad White emphasized the severity of the situation in a statement to The Daily Wire, saying, “Just last week, an illegal immigrant was arrested in North Mississippi for allegedly raping a 10-year-old boy twice. Every state is a border state now, and our new report shows how much state taxpayers are spending thanks to the open border.”

The report reveals that an estimated 22,000 illegal immigrants reside in Mississippi, contributing to a hefty financial strain on the state. While illegal immigration is often viewed as a federal issue, White’s investigation makes it clear that state taxpayers are shouldering a significant portion of the costs associated with this crisis.

Key Findings from the Report:

• Healthcare Costs: Mississippi spends an estimated $77 million annually on healthcare for illegal immigrants and their children. This figure includes emergency medical services and $4 million specifically for births to illegal immigrants, whose children automatically gain U.S. citizenship and eligibility for Medicaid.

• Education Costs: The state’s education system is also heavily impacted, with taxpayers likely paying $25 million each year to educate around 2,500 illegal immigrant students in K-12 schools. This number does not account for the additional costs of educating U.S.-citizen children born to illegal immigrants.

• Public Safety Costs: Mississippi's public safety system incurs an additional $1.7 million annually to incarcerate illegal immigrants. The report warns that this figure doesn’t even capture the full scope of the burden on law enforcement, including the need for specialized training and the strain on resources.

White’s report paints a grim picture of the broader implications of illegal immigration, particularly under the Biden-Harris administration, which has overseen an unprecedented crisis at the southern border. The report notes that as of 2016, an estimated 22.1 million illegal immigrants lived in the United States a number that has likely increased given the current administration's policies.

Over 10 million people have crossed the southern border since President Joe Biden took office, with an estimated 1.7 million illegal immigrant gotaways recorded since 2021. By comparison, there were 415,000 total reported gotaways for 2018, 2019, and 2020 under President Donald Trump.

As immigration continues to be a top concern for voters heading into the 2024 presidential election, the findings of this report underscore the urgent need for stronger border security and immigration reform. Mississippi’s experience is a stark reminder that the cost of illegal immigration is borne not just by border states but by every state in the nation.

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