,Ensign Amendment Would Undercut Immigration Bill Goals by Imposing Unaffordable Tax Burdens on Many Immigrants

Ensign Amendment Would Undercut Immigration Bill Goals by Imposing Unaffordable Tax Burdens on Many Immigrants


 

Publication Date: June 2007

Publisher: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s): Aviva Aron-Dine; John Wancheck

Research Area: Banking and finance; Population and demographics

Keywords: Economic projections; Tax code; Citizenship; Income diversity

Type: Report

Abstract:

An amendment to the Senate immigration bill filed by Senator John Ensign (R-NV) would prevent undocumented workers who are paying back taxes as part of legalizing their status from claiming the tax credits available to all other tax filers. It would also deny these workers any tax refunds the IRS might owe them because of overwithholding. As a result, undocumented workers seeking to legalize their status would effectively be taxed at higher rates — often sharply higher — than other Americans. Many would be left with back-tax bills that are much too high for them to afford.