Update: January 25, 2012

Undocumented Workers Are Taxpayers, Too

It's essential that Oregonians recognize the important contribution undocumented workers make to our state's economy. Undocumented immigrants perform vital work in certain industries. Together they earn roughly $2.3 billion to $4.5 billion a year, much of it undoubtedly spent on goods and services purchased from Oregon businesses. And beside labor and purchasing power, undocumented immigrants contribute to Oregon's economy in the form of taxes.

OCPP has updated an issue brief estimating the tax contributions by undocumented Oregon workers. Specifically, we estimate:

• how much undocumented workers pay in state and local income, property and excise taxes;
• how much they pay in federal Social Security and Medicare taxes;
• how much employers pay in taxes (for Social Security, Medicare and Unemployment Insurance) in the name of undocumented workers.

Read Undocumented Workers Are Taxpayers, Too. Click here for a PDF copy.