Lubbock Times

Yesterday, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) penned an op-ed in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, highlighting the fiscal impacts of the Biden Administration’s border policies. "The American people understand the unprecedented humanitarian and national security impact of our current border crisis, but it doesn’t end there. As Chairman of the House Budget Committee, I’m exposing the fiscal implications of our wide-open borders. The total hit to taxpayers is $150 billion per year," said Arrington.

He further pointed out that state and local governments bear a disproportionate financial burden, spending $100 billion per year while the federal government only spends $50 billion. "In Texas alone, we have spent $13 billion because the federal government has abdicated its first and most important responsibility: to enforce our immigration laws, secure our sovereign border, and protect our citizens," he added.

Arrington also noted that American taxpayers are spending nearly $9,000 per illegal immigrant which is more than what is spent on Medicaid benefits for vulnerable citizens or military retirement benefits for veterans. He provided a breakdown of additional taxpayer dollars spent on services for illegal immigrants at both federal and state levels.

"At a time when we have ballooning deficits and a record national debt, at a time when we can't even afford the safety net programs we've promised to our own citizens, we're taking on another $150 billion for people coming into our country illegally," he said.

Arrington's op-ed follows a hearing held by the House Budget Committee this week entitled “The Cost of the Border Crisis.” The hearing explored the fiscal consequences of the Biden Administration’s dismantling of effective border enforcement strategies. The House Budget Committee Republicans led by Chairman Arrington will continue to prioritize fiscal accountability within the federal government by striving to protect American taxpayers and states from footing the bill of bad executive policies.