Undocumented

The Greeley Tribune reports on a forum held by U.S. Rep. Maralyn Musgrave on immigration in Colorado and cites figures from the Bell Policy Center's 2006 issue briefs on immigration.

This review of research reports on the demographics of immigrants in Colorado and the economic impacts of immigration. It also analyzes some federal and state policies regarding immigration.

Undocumented immigrant households paid between $159 million and $194 million in total taxes in 2005. We estimate the average undocumented household working on the books in Colorado paid $1,861 in state and local sales, income and property taxes in 2005. Undocumented immigranttax payments are equal to 70 to 86 percent of the state and local governments??? costs for providing federally mandated services.

Newspapers around the state report on the Bell Policy Center's 2006 issue briefs, "State and local taxes paid in Colorado by undocumented immigrants" and "Costs of federally mandated services to undocumented immigrants in Colorado."

Bell Policy Center President Wade Buchanan says a proposed ballot initiative that would bar undocumented immigrants from receiving government services fails to solve any real problems.

This issue brief discusses the problem of postsecondary access for undocumented students, provides an overview of federal and state legislative developments in this policy area, and summarizes legislation currently before the Colorado General Assembly.