A fiery debate has erupted over the cost of deporting illegal alien criminals, with critics arguing that media-backed cost estimates are grossly exaggerated. In testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, American Immigration Council (AIC) Senior Fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick estimated that deporting 13 million illegal aliens would cost a staggering $316 billion. While the media parroted these numbers, a closer examination reveals the reality: deporting illegal aliens, especially those with criminal records, is far more cost-effective than maintaining the status quo.
The AIC claims deporting one million illegal aliens annually would cost $88 billion, breaking down to $88,000 per deportee. These figures include $7 billion for arrests, $66 billion for detentions, $12.6 billion for legal processes, and $2.1 billion for transportation. However, their estimates rely on flawed assumptions that inflate costs.
Historical data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tells a different story. Over the last decade, the average deportation cost per individual has been around $12,124—less than one-sixth of the AIC’s projection. Even when accounting for legal processing costs, this figure only rises to about $14,705 per deportee, significantly lower than the AIC’s numbers.
AIC’s $66 billion annual detention cost estimate is based on the assumption that one million people must be housed for nearly two months each year. In reality, detention times vary widely, with many individuals detained for just a few weeks.
Furthermore, AIC claims that each new facility costs $35.91 million and that 83 new facilities would need to be built annually to accommodate deportees. This overlooks the fact that these facilities have multi-year lifespans. The U.S. already has capacity for 41,500 detainees, and adding facilities to house an additional 83,000 detainees would cost closer to $3 billion—a fraction of AIC’s projection.
The AIC also overestimates daily detention costs, claiming $237 per individual and $482 per family. Federal prisons, by comparison, report costs as low as $93.50 per day for private facilities and $122.50 for medium-security prisons.
Using ICE’s historical budget and deportation data, the cost per deportee averages $13,706, even when including enforcement activities unrelated to deportations. At peak deportation years—such as 2004, when 1.4 million deportations occurred—the cost per deportee dropped to $4,354 due to economies of scale.
If sanctuary cities and states cooperated with federal deportation efforts, these costs could fall even further. For instance, sanctuary city policies often result in additional logistical and legal hurdles that drive up costs unnecessarily.
The argument for deportation becomes even stronger when considering the cost of crime committed by illegal alien criminals. Of the 7.4 million non-detained noncitizens with pending cases in the U.S., 662,566 have criminal records. Deporting these individuals would cost approximately $8 billion.
By contrast, if these individuals were to re-offend, the total cost of their crimes—including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering—would exceed $166.5 billion. This figure, calculated by the National Institute of Justice, demonstrates that the cost of crime is at least 21 times higher than the cost of deportation.
Despite the stark discrepancies in cost estimates, mainstream media outlets like The New York Times, USA Today, and CNN have uncritically echoed AIC’s inflated numbers. These outlets fail to account for real-world data and conservative estimates that place deportation costs far below AIC’s alarmist projections.
The media also ignored the AIC’s October report estimating a “one-time” $316 billion cost to deport 13 million illegal aliens. This would average $24,231 per deportee—again, significantly higher than ICE’s historical costs.
While the AIC’s claims aim to create shock value, real-world evidence supports the feasibility of large-scale deportations. By reallocating resources and leveraging existing facilities, the U.S. could effectively deport criminal aliens at a fraction of the estimated costs.
As President Trump plans a potential crackdown on illegal immigration, understanding the true costs and benefits of deportation is crucial. Beyond the financial implications, prioritizing the removal of criminal aliens sends a strong message about upholding the rule of law and protecting American communities.
By focusing on facts rather than fearmongering, policymakers and the public can make informed decisions about immigration enforcement. Deporting illegal alien criminals isn’t just a matter of fiscal responsibility—it’s a vital step toward safeguarding the nation’s security and sovereignty.
