A new report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers estimates that immigration policies supported by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) could cost American taxpayers between $440 billion and $613 billion over the next decade. The analysis, released as the Trump administration highlights border security metrics, focuses on the financial implications of mass amnesty and expanded federal benefits for undocumented immigrants. The findings come as Democratic candidates increasingly emphasize affordability in their campaign platforms ahead of the midterms.

The Council's analysis projects that the current illegal immigrant population accounts for between $1.4 trillion and $1.9 trillion in total taxpayer costs under its model. It estimates that the average illegal immigrant carries a lifetime net fiscal cost of $166,716. For context, the College Board's 2025–26 figures indicate that the average cost to put a student through four years at an in-state public university is approximately $124,000. The White House is using these figures to argue that progressive immigration policies could exacerbate the cost-of-living pressures that Democrats have cited as a primary voter concern.

What the Left Is Saying

Democratic Socialists of America candidates and allied progressives have gained traction in 2026, winning key Democratic primaries and expanding their influence within the broader party. Their platform generally advocates for pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and expanded access to federal safety net programs. Proponents argue that integrating immigrants into the formal economy increases tax revenue and fills labor shortages. They contend that the current enforcement-heavy approach under the Trump administration has led to family separations and labor market disruptions that hurt working-class Americans.

While specific reaction to the CEA report from DSA leadership was not detailed in the source, the broader progressive coalition has criticized the administration's border policies as inhumane. They argue that the cost estimates fail to account for the economic contributions of immigrant labor. Some Democrats have introduced legislation to abolish ICE and Border Patrol, reflecting a desire to shift from enforcement to integration and humanitarian support. The affordability message is central to their midterm strategy, positioning the party as the champion of economic relief for families.

What the Right Is Saying

The Trump administration and Republican allies are framing the DSA's immigration agenda as a fiscal and public safety threat. White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis stated, "President Trump … supercharged ICE to remove criminal illegal aliens from our communities, including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members and terrorists." She argued that "radical Democrats want to go back to their extreme open border policies and grant amnesty to the illegal aliens they released into our communities."

Bis added that "not only will these radical policies make America less safe, but they will cost the American taxpayer billions of dollars." The administration has highlighted 16 consecutive months without illegal immigrant releases at the southern border as evidence of successful enforcement. The White House also noted a 73% increase in drug interdictions through August 2026 compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. Republicans are using the CEA report to counter Democratic affordability messaging, suggesting that progressive policies would increase the tax burden on households.

What the Numbers Show

The Council of Economic Advisers estimates that implementing DSA-backed immigration policies would result in the following costs over the next decade:

• Mass amnesty and expanded federal benefits: $440 billion to $613 billion total cost.

• Ending Trump-backed enforcement measures: A net cost of $79 billion to $139 billion, after accounting for $227 billion to $287 billion in projected savings from reduced enforcement spending.

• Expanded eligibility for SNAP, housing assistance, and Medicaid: An additional $361 billion to $475 billion in federal spending.

• Annual cost breakdowns: $3.6 billion to $4.7 billion for food stamps; $2.3 billion to $3 billion for housing assistance; and up to $40 billion annually for Medicaid.

• Lifetime net fiscal cost per illegal immigrant: $166,716.

• Broader DSA agenda cost: The White House projects the full DSA platform could cost $49 trillion over ten years, or roughly $355,000 per American household.

The report notes that while illegal immigrants are currently prohibited from most federal benefit programs, some progressive proposals seek to reverse this standard. The administration contrasts these figures with the College Board's average four-year public university cost of $124,000 to illustrate the scale of the projected fiscal impact.

The Bottom Line

The release of the CEA report intensifies the political battle over immigration and economic policy ahead of the midterms. By quantifying the potential costs of progressive immigration proposals, the White House aims to challenge the Democratic narrative on affordability. The data suggests that expanding federal benefits for undocumented immigrants would significantly increase federal spending, a point Republicans are using to argue that progressive policies are fiscally unsustainable. Democrats, meanwhile, continue to gain support for their platform within the party, setting up a direct conflict between their affordability promises and the fiscal projections presented by the administration. The interactive White House webpage released with the report allows users to explore these estimates, signaling a strategy to personalize the cost of policy proposals for voters.