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Shuler Bill Saves American Taxpayer from Paying for Illegal Immigrants

Washington, Apr 8 -

Ranking Member Lamar Smith today issued the following statement regarding the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) cost estimate for Representative Shuler’s Secure America through Verification and Enforcement Act (SAVE Act):



“The Congressional Budget Office’s cost estimate for the SAVE Act is a disappointing distortion of the bill’s actual savings to American taxpayers. CBO completely ignores the overwhelming cost of welfare programs for the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants—who now account for nearly one-in-ten births nationwide. CBO also ignores the cost of illegal immigrants in federal prisons.



“The most significant cost projected by CBO is reduced tax revenues from employers who will supposedly decide to pay illegal immigrants off the books. CBO assumes that many employers will decide to deliberately violate the law. This is a slap in the face to the large majority of American businesses who want to do the right thing. They want a legal workforce and simply need the tools provided by the Shuler bill to achieve one.



“CBO should remember that the cost of illegal immigration to American taxpayers is equally significant. American taxpayers are forced to foot the bill for emergency medical care, public education and even prison costs for criminal aliens. Overall, the cost of allowing illegal immigrants to continue living and working in the U.S. far outweighs the estimated costs CBO used in reference to the Shuler bill.”