The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute released a report this week, in part, examining the fiscal impacts of legal and illegal immigrants in Green Bay. David Dodenhoff, Senior Fellow at WPRI, says at the state and local level, immigrants use more in services than they pay in taxes, primarily in education costs of immigrant children. However, Dr. Dodenhoff says at the federal level, immigrants tend to pay more in taxes and than they use in services.
He says these ratios depend on how long the family has been in the U.S. "Immigrant families as they get established and the children are educated here, they tend to do better economically, which means they tend to pay more in taxes and consume less in services."
The Cornerstone Foundation, a social services charity, commissioned the WPRI report for a study on immigration in the area. Last year, hundreds protested Green Bay's passing of ordinances meant to crack down on businesses who hire illegal immigrants and landlords that rent to illegals.
AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :57)
