Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights

and stakeholders—on an immigration issue seems inconsistent with the ideological clashes that define our conversation on immigration. We rightly are focused on Republican governors busing and flying migrants to sanctuary cities and on upheaval at the border with the imminent end of Title 42. Yet, a better functioning FOIA system and greater government transparency is necessary to help inform these conversations.

There should be broad bipartisan agreement that removing thousands of records from the FOIA queue to allow immigration agencies to timely provide information to the public benefits us all. The number of firstperson requests to DHS agencies is only increasing and the agencies seem perpetually unprepared to respond. It is simply good government policy to rethink a process that isn’t functioning properly and finally stop shoehorning firstperson requests for information into a FOIA process.p

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Taxes / continued from page 1

play a vital role in the funding and sustainability of America’s public services and programs.

Immigrants’ Tax Contributions

Undocumented immigrants make significant contributions to the U.S. tax system by paying sales, income, and property taxes.

In 2021 alone, these households contributed $30.8 billion in total taxes, including $18.6 billion in federal income taxes and $12.2 billion in state and local taxes, based on data from the American Community Survey.

Individual Tax Identification Numbers

At least 50% of undocumented immigrant households file income tax returns using Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITINs), according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. ITINs are tax processing numbers issued by the Internal Revenue Service, allowing more people to contribute to the tax system and build the tax base.

While undocumented immigrants file taxes using an ITIN, other people may also obtain one, including legal permanent residents, foreign nationals working in the United States, and immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens, among others.

In 2015, 4.4 million ITIN filers paid over $5.5 billion in payroll and Medicare taxes and $23.6 billion in total taxes, according to the IRS.

Tax Benefits

ITIN holders are not eligible for all the tax benefits and public benefits that U.S. citizens and other taxpayers can receive. For example, they are not eligible for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). It’s critical to remember that ITIN holders pay taxes to these and other programs, like Medicare and Medicaid, that Americans use every day.

If an ITIN holder becomes eligible for Social Security in the future (such as by becoming a lawful permanent resident), the earnings reported with an ITIN may count toward their eligibility. However, if they never become eligible, they cannot collect on their contributions.

Many undocumented immigrants have taxes deducted from their paychecks, even if they do not file income tax returns.

It is important to recognize that undocumented immigrants are paying their fair share toward the public good and hope that one day, they too will benefit from their contributions, just like millions of other Americans who file their taxes and fulfill their civic duty. p