> ... as if there were some sort of authorative objective dataset, but by nature, how can you measure unreported income? Citizen also take cash jobs and don't

> ... as if there were some sort of authorative objective dataset, but by nature, how can you measure unreported income? Citizen also take cash jobs and don't report the income, yet they have more options and access to resources. Unlike undocumented persons. I'm guessing you feel the same about citizens dodging their tax responsibilities at least as strongly as you do undocumented workers. See the end for a solution, for the undocumented at least. See [0] for a breakdown of taxes and contributions.$19.5B in Federal Income tax, $32.3B in Social Insurances taxes payed through automatic withholding from their paychecks in 2022. They are not getting jobs where they would owe at the end of the year. They pay the same sales and excise taxes on goods and services, property taxes on renting/owning etc. $96.7B total taxes paid in 2022. Some use "borrowed" SSN (usually provided by the employer or employer referred source), they don't get to file for a refund; some use ITINs and are also likely forgo refunds thus pay more taxes than a similarly employed citizen while losing out on benefits they are supposedly "stealing". They have no way to access social security. A 2006 study showed they contributed so much to Texas' GDP that Texas refuses to conduct further studies on their economic impact [1] A Texas economic analysis firm in 2016 estimated a contribution of $11.8B to the state after subtracting $3.1 B the state spent for their health, education, other public services.[2] The simple solution is access to work authorization. They trade being exploited by employers to paying more taxes for that security. If citizens wanted the jobs they do we would not have a chronic shortage of workers in those positions, Notably hospice and construction. [0] https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-taxes-2024/ https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-taxes-2024/ [1] https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/06/texas-undocumented-immigrants-economic-contributions-outweigh-costs/ https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/06/texas-undocumented-i... [2] https://www.perrymangroup.com/media/uploads/report/perryman-texas-needs-the-workers-01-29-16.pdf https://www.perrymangroup.com/media/uploads/report/perryman-...