TRENTON, N.J. — A report from Assemblyman Paul Kanitra estimates that illegal immigration costs New Jersey residents at least $7.3 billion annually. Kanitra’s office found that approximately 892,000 undocumented immigrants reside in the state as of April 2024, a figure updated from previous estimates.
The report, which follows a two-month investigation by Kanitra’s office, states that the cost amounts to about $1,600 per worker and $2,100 per household in the state. These estimates cover state and local expenditures related to undocumented immigrants, excluding federal costs.
Kanitra’s findings suggest that the number of undocumented immigrants in New Jersey has grown by 117,000 since 2023, a figure based on apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border and estimates from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
The report uses a conservative estimate of 7.52% for undocumented immigrants’ share of the population, although it acknowledges that nearly 1 in 10 New Jersey residents may be undocumented.
The report also notes that the state’s population, which the U.S. Census Bureau estimates at 9.29 million in 2023, has not grown as quickly as the undocumented immigrant population, leading to a higher proportion of undocumented residents.
The costs highlighted in the report focus solely on expenses related to undocumented immigrants and do not consider any potential tax contributions or economic benefits from this population.
