Tax season in the United States has been disrupted by an upsetting request from the Department of Homeland Security. It is seeking sensitive taxpayer information from the Internal Revenue Service to locate undocumented taxpayers. This unprecedented move has sent fear through immigrant communities, as the IRS had previously made a promise that their tax filings would remain confidential. 

For undocumented individuals, filing taxes has often been a paradoxical act, as it is an assertion of their civic responsibility and a step toward potential legal recognition. Immigration reform would be a step toward legal recognition, as for decades they have been treated as less-than-citizens in areas of life outside of taxation.

For years, the IRS has allowed undocumented workers to report their earnings regardless of immigration status using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers instead of Social Security Numbers. 

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The agency has also promised to not share information regarding their immigration status. This system has enabled millions of undocumented individuals to contribute to the economy, while remaining outside of legal representation toward a pathway to citizenship. 

In 2022, undocumented immigrants contributed $96.7 billion in local, state and federal taxes according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Out of the $96.7 billion, $59.4 billion was paid in federal taxes. Most importantly, more than a third of these taxes go toward funding programs that are inaccessible to them. This includes Social Security benefits, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.   

However, this precedent could change given the recent report that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has asked IRS agents to support the department’s arrest and removal proceedings.

Throughout debates about undocumented immigrants, myths have circulated regarding whether they’re paying taxes. However, this begs the question, if undocumented immigrants do not pay taxes, why is the secretary of DHS requesting their information? While some may speculate they contribute little to our country financially, one fact has stayed true: Their contributions to state and federal taxes have long been present. 

On average, undocumented immigrants paid $8,889 per person in taxes, a rate that is comparable to the median tax burden faced by U.S. citizens. States like California, Texas and New York experience their contributions the most, as California alone received $8.5 billion in state and local taxes from undocumented individuals. These numbers debunk persistent misconceptions about undocumented immigrants not contributing to our nation. 

The recent DHS request has sent fear among the immigrant community, wherein immigrants are questioning whether they should report their taxes for the upcoming year as their deportation could be a risk. 

For years, filing taxes has stood as a pathway toward potential legal recognition, as it serves as proof of compliance with U.S. laws and contributions to our nation’s economy. Now, undocumented individuals are met with a dilemma: comply with tax laws but risk deportation or avoid filing to protect their status but face potential penalties for tax evasion. 

DHS’s request for 700,000 addresses suspected to correspond to undocumented taxpayers presents a chilling demand. Despite their contributions in taxes, recognition in Congress has yet to occur in passing progressive immigration reform leading to a pathway to citizenship. 

Undocumented labor goes unnoticed, despite paying billions into Social Security and Medicare funds they cannot access. Instead, undocumented immigrants are undergoing taxation without representation. The U.S. directly benefits from their labor and tax contributions but continues to devalue them in our legislative branch, where immigration reform remains stalled. Additionally, our executive branch continues to enact anti-immigration policies, but will continue to want immigrants to file taxes. 

While immigrants’ financial contributions carry weight to our nation’s economy, their contributions are not just financial: They are woven into the nation’s fabric. The ongoing debate over immigration reform is not merely a policy issue but an awakening of our values. 

Undocumented immigrants have tirelessly contributed to this nation while navigating systemic exclusion. Their taxation without representation is a crucial example of the fight for equity and legal representation. 

As Congress continues to delay meaningful immigrant reform, it leaves millions of immigrants in limbo, paying into systems that deny their rights. Undocumented migrants are more than deserving of rights and should be treated as more than just a number. 

In dismantling myths about undocumented communities, it is unfortunate that rhetoric has focused mainly on their financial contributions without recognizing the humanitarian need for immigration reform. Until such reforms are made, undocumented immigrants will continue to face unequal burdens, as their tax contributions are overlooked and their fears of potential deportation arrests rise. 

Heydy Vasquez is a junior writing about the lack of support for undocumented students on college campuses. Her column, “UndocuTales,” runs every other Thursday.