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Witness testifies that immigrants reduced deficits by about $14.5 trillion over 30 years
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Summary
A witness told the committee that immigrants 'working at higher participation rates and using fewer benefits' reduced combined government deficits by roughly $14.5 trillion over the last 30 years and that Social Security projections still show a large future shortfall.
A witness addressed in the hearing as Mister Beier testified that immigrants have been a net fiscal benefit to federal, state and local budgets over the past three decades, and he cited specific figures and labor-force participation rates during an exchange with a lawmaker.
"Over the last 30 years, we looked at all the government budgets, federal, state, and local combined. Immigrants reduce deficits by 14 and a half trillion dollars," Mister Beier said. He added that immigrants work at about "12 percentage points higher than the national average" and that many are in prime working ages and ready to contribute to the labor force.
The lawmaker pressed the witness on how immigration affects Social Security and Medicare trust funds, noting projections that those trust funds may face shortfalls. Mister Beier cited the Social Security Administration, saying, "According to the Social Security Administration, we need about 35,000,000 more workers in order to keep revenues equal to expenses by the middle of the 20 thirties," and said immigration helps but will not fully solve the problem.
Mister Beier framed the testimony as fiscal analysis rather than a policy prescription; the transcript records no immediate policy action or vote tied to these claims. The figures and conclusions attributed to the witness are presented as his testimony and rely on the underlying sources he cited.
