Taxpayers Gasp as Elon Musk’s Department Strips Down the $150.7 Billion Immigration Cost!

The United States government may be spending a hefty slice of its budget—over two percent—on illegal immigration, according to a report from Elon Musk’s newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“In 2023 alone, illegal immigration cost taxpayers $150.7 billion,” the DOGE account stated on X, formerly known as Twitter, Tuesday.

This bold claim comes in the wake of Musk’s appointment as head of the department following Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential victory. Musk, alongside billionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, was tasked with spearheading efforts to eliminate bureaucratic waste and reduce unnecessary government spending.

A Cost Larger Than Life Projects

DOGE’s post didn’t stop at the eye-popping figure. It compared the $150.7 billion cost to historic undertakings, citing inflation-adjusted expenses such as the $30 billion spent on the Manhattan Project and the $1 billion required to construct the Hoover Dam.

If accurate, this expense approaches the $151 billion allocated to income security programs for veterans and their families in 2023, as reported by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. Additionally, the sum represents around 19 percent of the annual U.S. defense budget or 2.4 percent of the total $6.1 trillion federal expenditure.

What’s Driving the Numbers?

DOGE’s estimate leans on a study published in March 2023 by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). The report concluded that illegal immigration costs reached $182 billion in gross expenses, offset only slightly by $32 billion in taxes collected from undocumented workers. The resulting net figure—$150.7 billion—is attributed to costs like healthcare, education, welfare, and justice system expenses.

FAIR, however, has its critics. It has been labeled an “anti-immigrant organization” by Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative and classified as a “designated hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center due to alleged connections to white supremacist groups. Critics also argue that FAIR inflates both the costs and the estimated number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.

Musk Adds His Voice

The X post, which quickly went viral, drew commentary from users across the political spectrum. Some rallied behind DOGE’s findings, calling for drastic government reforms.

The scale of spending on illegal immigration boggles the mind! https://t.co/7UJYcWOKeD

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 3, 2024

“If we have $150.7 billion to spend on people who shouldn’t even be in this country, then the U.S. Government is taxing us too much,” one user commented. Another declared, “This $150B is precisely why President Trump got elected. Time to clean house, DOGE.”

Musk himself amplified the conversation by sharing the post, adding, “The scale of spending on illegal immigration boggles the mind!”

Context in a Broader Debate

The $150.7 billion figure was spotlighted during a May 2023 House Budget Committee hearing, where Jodey Arrington (R-TX) cited it as evidence of the fiscal strain caused by illegal immigration. The debate over these costs is far from settled, with critics questioning the methodology behind FAIR’s numbers and their implications.

DOGE continues to ignite discussions about government efficiency and fiscal responsibility, ensuring this contentious topic remains front and center. For now, both advocates and skeptics are left grappling with the immense financial implications of illegal immigration as presented by Musk’s department.