Civic Scholar

Illegal immigration is a contentious topic in the United States and being aware of what is happening at the borders is a necessity for an educated vote in the 2024 Presidential election.

It costs the U.S. taxpayer approximately $150.7 billion each year in illegal immigration expenses, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). FAIR compared data from 2017 ($116 billion) and reported how in five years the cost increased by over $35 billion.

Professor of Government and the Director of National Security and Intelligence Programs Tony Cothron said how important it is for students to understand the financial burden of education, healthcare and law enforcement expenses from the total fiscal cost of illegal immigration.

U.S. taxpayers are covering costs of public schools, leading to the increase in taxes for further funding due to larger classroom sizes. Taxpayers then pay for additional teachers, educational materials and facilities.

“Much of the country doesn’t perceive it — other than when they go to the emergency room they have to wait a long time,” Cothron said.

Cothron explains that U.S. taxpayers are not only affected in education but healthcare and law enforcement too.

“Authorizing and allowing unprecedented, uncontrollable quantities of foreign nationals into the country, when your hospitals, your schools, your communities cannot handle them and there are significant numbers of criminals — it’s just not rational” Cothron said. “The borders are uncontrolled.”

Cothron encouraged students, families and citizens to look at the facts on who to vote for as the 2024 presidential election draws near.

“The avalanche of illegal immigrants is a threat to the citizens, to the economy and the welfare of the nation,” he said.

Cothron also advised all students to take advantage of the government classes at Liberty University to comprehend the issues that are occurring today.

Mella is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion