There isn’t one single number, because estimates vary a lot depending on what is counted and who is doing the counting. A recent anti-illegal-immigration estimate put the annual net cost at about $150.7 billion nationwide, while other estimates and government-related reporting focus on specific programs or states rather than a national total.

What the estimates usually mean

The big differences come from:

  • Whether the estimate counts gross spending or net cost after taxes paid.
  • Whether it includes only federal spending or also state and local costs.
  • Whether it counts emergency medical care, education, law enforcement, and social services.
  • Whether it refers to all undocumented immigrants or only certain groups in certain states.

Recent figures in circulation

One widely cited report says taxpayers pay about $182 billion in services and benefits tied to illegal immigration, offset by about $31 billion in taxes paid by undocumented immigrants, for a net annual cost of about $150.7 billion. Another report from 2025 said more than $1 billion in federal taxpayer dollars was being spent on Medicaid for illegal immigrants across five states and D.C., but that is a much narrower number and not a national total. A separate briefing also notes that undocumented immigrants generally do not qualify for federally funded health programs, though they can receive emergency Medicaid and some state-funded care in certain places.

How to read the claim

If someone asks “how many tax dollars are spent,” the most honest answer is that the number depends on the definition:

  • Low narrow figure: spending tied to one program or one state.
  • High broad figure: total estimated national cost across federal, state, and local budgets.
  • Most cited broad estimate: around $150 billion per year net.

Practical takeaway

So, the short answer is: estimates commonly range from billions in specific programs or states to roughly $150 billion a year in broad national cost studies. The exact figure is disputed, and the methodology matters as much as the headline number.