The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting initiative led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, has spotlighted the staggering financial burden illegal immigration imposes on American taxpayers. On Monday, DOGE took to X (formerly Twitter) to reveal the jaw-dropping costs of illegal immigration, comparing them to inflation-adjusted expenses of historic U.S. projects and events, such as World War I and the Apollo space program.
Illegal Immigration: A $150.7 Billion Price Tag
In a post that grabbed nationwide attention, DOGE reported that illegal immigration cost taxpayers a colossal $150.7 billion in 2023. The agency based its figures on data from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), which calculated this amount by tallying federal, state, and local expenses associated with illegal immigration while deducting the total taxes paid by illegal immigrants.
Comparing Costs: World War I
DOGE juxtaposed the cost of illegal immigration with historical U.S. expenditures, starting with World War I. A Norwich University study revealed that the U.S. spent $334 billion on the war, adjusted for inflation. This comparison underscores the startling fact that illegal immigration in just one year costs nearly half as much as America’s financial commitment to an entire world war.
Apollo Space Program: Reaching for the Stars
The Apollo space program, which achieved the monumental feat of landing Americans on the moon, cost $25.8 billion between 1960 and 1973. According to The Planetary Society, that translates to $257 billion in today’s dollars—still less than the cumulative burden illegal immigration imposes in just two years.
The Manhattan Project: Nuclear Innovation
DOGE also highlighted the Manhattan Project, which developed the nuclear bomb and played a pivotal role in World War II. This groundbreaking project cost $30 billion in today’s dollars over four years. Illegal immigration’s annual cost surpasses this historic endeavor by fivefold.
The Panama Canal: A Gateway to Global Trade
Completed in 1914, the Panama Canal stands as one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century. It cost the U.S. $500 million at the time, or $15.2 billion adjusted for inflation. The contrast in costs emphasizes the vast and ongoing financial strain illegal immigration places on the U.S. economy.
The Hoover Dam: A Symbol of American Ingenuity
Even the Hoover Dam, a landmark of American innovation completed in 1935, pales in comparison. Built for $49 million, or $1 billion in today’s dollars, the cost of this iconic infrastructure project represents a mere fraction of what illegal immigration demands from taxpayers each year.
