Fact check: how much does illegal immigration cost the US?

Groups on both sides of the immigration debate have questioned Donald Trump’s latest figures

US border
US flag near the border with Mexico
(Image credit: David McNew/Getty Images)

Donald Trump has been accused of exaggerating the cost of illegal immigration as he seeks to secure federal funding for his long-promised wall along the Mexico border.

As a partial government shutdown looms over a spending bill that includes an additional $5bn for Trump’s wall, The Week takes a closer look at the range of figures cited by the president.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up