UAMs Cost Taxpayers More Than Retirees Receive From Social Security

Unaccompanied alien minors (UAMs) and family units continue to surge across the border illegally at rates similar to summer 2014 record levels. The latest statistics from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveal that, in March, Border Patrol apprehended 4,240 UAMs — most from Central America — plus 4,452 family units. (FAIR Legislative Update, May 3, 2016) These numbers reflect a significant increase compared to last year (where approximately 40,000 UAMs were apprehended) and are now on pace to exceed the 2014 peak of 69,000 UAMs. (See CBP UAM Apprehension Statistics) Now, border officials are expecting 2016 and 2017 numbers to approach 75,000. (Id.)

Evidence continues to mount that the Central American UAMs and family units continue crossing the border illegally at record numbers because they know they will get to stay in the U.S. once they arrive. Because of a loophole in the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2008, UAMs from Central America cannot be promptly returned to their home countries. (P. Law 110-457) Instead, they receive a "notice to appear" which sets a court date in the future and are then released into the U.S. (FAIR Legislative Update, Dec. 1, 2015) However, illegal aliens refer to them as "permisos," or free passes, because they give permission to stay in the country while they await their appearance in already backlogged immigration courts. (Id.)

Instead of addressing the underlying causes of this illegal migration, President Obama wants to merely throw taxpayer dollars at it. Despite the sustained surge of UAMs and family units the last three years, President Obama has labeled the situation "unexpected urgent refugee and migration needs" and has requested $1.3 billion for Fiscal Year 2017 for his Unaccompanied Children program. (See Center for Immigration Studies, May 2016) The cost to American taxpayers of reuniting illegal aliens with the children they left behind is substantial. Indeed, the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) calculates that each of the estimated 75,000 individual UAMs will cost taxpayers $17,643, which is more than double the cost from Fiscal Year 2010. (Id.) By comparison, the average Social Security retirement benefit an American citizen receives is $14,772, or nearly $3,000 less. (Washington Examiner, May 2, 2016)