Featured investigation / July 17, 2026

The 2020-2024 influx of illegal immigration may have cost taxpayers $1.2T?

Analysis of 2020-2024 CBP encounter data and average welfare and education spending shows that costs to taxpayers from illegal immigration could plausibly exceed $1 trillion.

HUD chief blames 'unchecked illegal immigration' pricing-out families amid new housing report

Investigation visual

Open the calculator scenario

Question

How many illegal immigrants came into the country from 2020-2024 and what is the average cost of welfare and education spending per person?

Claim being tested

Core claim: Illegal immigrants that came in from 2020-2024 under Biden likely cost taxpayers over $1T in adult welfare cost, child welfare plus education cost.

Between 2020 and 2024, an estimated 11-12 million total illegal immigrant encounters were recorded. Applying average welfare ($13,000/person/year) and education ($17,600/child/year) spending suggests taxpayer costs could approach or exceed $1 trillion, assuming continuing social service use. This is a modeled estimate pending detailed verification.

Competing story frames

Primary story frame

foxnews.com

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hud-chief-blames-unchecked-illegal-immigration-pricing-out-families-amid-new-housing-report

Counter or supporting frame

washingtonpost.com

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/07/06/immigration-housing-costs-inside-fed-paper-trump-cited/

Counter or supporting frame

budget.house.gov

https://budget.house.gov/imo/media/doc/the_cost_of_illegal_immigration_to_taxpayers.pdf

Fact-based response

Why the numbers are plausible

- U.S. total welfare and social assistance budget is approximately $1.2 trillion annually across programs like Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and housing aid.

- Roughly 92 million recipients, averaging about $13,000 per recipient yearly.

- Average per pupil education spending is around $17,619 annually.

- CBP (Customs and Border Protection) encounter figures for illegal immigration approximate: 2020: 650,000; 2021: 2 million; 2022: 3 million; 2023: 3.34 million; 2024: 3 million.

- Primary sources to review include reports from Fox News, Washington Post, and House Budget Committee analysis on immigration costs.

Data suggests the claim that illegal immigrants arriving from 2020-2024 potentially cost taxpayers over $1 trillion in combined adult welfare, child welfare, and education expenses is plausible when using average spending estimates and CBP encounter counts. However, exact totals require further source validation, precise benefit eligibility data, and age-specific demographic analysis to confirm and separate costs by category.