A recent letter writer focused on (yet) another public claim that migrant laborers don’t pay their fair share in taxes. She responded to the assertion with online research about who pays what. I was amazed by what she found: The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy reports that, “Not only do undocumented workers pay nearly $100 billion in taxes annually. In most areas they pay higher state and local tax rates than their wealthiest neighbors. Six of the most immigrant-populous states accounted for a combined $21.1 billion of those contributions, with California leading the way at $8.5 billion in tax revenue.” The research further showed that these workers pay into programs that they’re barred from accessing. “Undocumented immigrants paid $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes, $6.4 billion in Medicare taxes and $1.8 billion in unemployment insurance taxes in 2022,” from which they received not a dime’s worth of benefits.

This sort of extortion results when you have taxation without representation. Ask yourself what happens to the state and local revenues mentioned above when ICE goons begin rounding up and disappearing the irreplaceable, tax-paying workforce staffing construction operations, caring for our sick and elderly, and producing the food we eat in this valley. Immigrant workers disappearing without due process results in shrinking revenues, school cuts and other crucial resource shortages. The crime in question? Being non-white. Let’s get real about the obvious facts. Get rid of the migrant deportation scam for heaven’s sake, and invite back the 84% of those stolen away who have proven to be without criminality. Restore the sovereignty, sanctuary, and functionality of our local communities in the heart of our wounded democracy. It’s the right thing to do. We’ll call for federal help when we need it.

Instead, let’s deport the deporters. Since we know our current immigration policies are broken at the core, why not design and initiate more welcoming programs for new immigrants, encouraging their social, legal, and economic integration upon arrival. How about welcome centers featuring various needed social programs, including 160 hours of stimulating U.S. citizenship education in easy stages and job counseling leading to work permits. A $7,000 stipend in advance will help new neighbors get settled, find decent housing and get the kids enrolled in school. New citizenship will become a reachable goal, all of this at a fraction of the current ICE budget.

To make this work for everyone, we need to develop greater local and national excitement about our new neighbors and become more compassionate about how, in reaching out, we help them get connected. They’ll pay their way after that. People treated humanely and fairly usually respond with motivation and productivity, as was more widely evident before the ICEy onslaught a year ago. Our strength is in our diversity. It’s the narrative we must pursue and protect.

Michael Kline lives in Sunderland.