PRESS RELEASE
April 19, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Sharon Kayne, Communications Director, NM Voices for Children, 505-244-9505 

ALBUQUERQUE—Despite popular perception, undocumented immigrants working and residing in the U.S. pay billions in taxes every year. That’s the conclusion from a report released yesterday by the American Immigration Council.

The report (available online) concluded that nationwide, households headed by unauthorized immigrants contributed $11.2 billion in state and local taxes in 2010. New Mexico received $101 million in state and local income, sales, and property taxes from these households.

“This report points out what should be simple common sense: no one living or working in the U.S. gets around paying taxes, regardless of their immigration or citizenship status,” said Gerry Bradley, Research Director for NM Voices for Children. Bradley authored a similar report for NM Voices in 2006 that came to the same conclusion.

“It’s important that policy-makers have this kind of information as they reform immigration policy,” said Bradley. “It shows that undocumented immigrants are contributing members of society not just as workers but as consumers and taxpayers as well.”

The American Immigration Council report used tax figures and methodology from the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) and population estimates from the PEW Hispanic Center.

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New Mexico Voices for Children is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization advocating for policies to improve the health and well-being of New Mexico’s children, families and communities.
2340 Alamo SE, Suite 120, Albuquerque, NM 87106-3523; 505-244-9505 (p); www.nmvoices.org