A new report that put the cost of illegal immigration at $113 billion a year shows that the burden falls disproportionately on urban blacks who have to pay taxes to fund free services to undocumented aliens and then compete with them for those same programs.

In seeking a “better deal” for black Americans, the report from Project 21, part of the conservative National Center for Public Policy Research, is calling on Congress and the White House to bar illegals from receiving public aid except emergency services and prosecute groups that use federal funds on those in the country illegally.

[Also read: 54% of alien children, teens, on welfare, nearly half for adults]

“Blacks and the working class shouldn't be taxed to pay for illegal immigrants,” said Project 21 Co-Chairman Horace Cooper.

He added to Secrets, “Unfortunately it's happening all across the country. Once again the Democrats take blacks and poor people for granted. This time they expect us to pay the bills too for their bad ideas. Either stem the tide of illegal immigration or find a new way to fund this costly effort.”

His black leadership network just issued a set of demands titled, “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America.”

It outlines several ways in which blacks and the working class are punished by decades of illegal immigration.

It said:

Illegal immigration costs taxpayers about $113 billion a year at the federal, state and local level, according to figures from the Federation for American Immigration Reform. About $84 billion is absorbed by state and local governments that mostly derive funding through property, sales and income taxes.

Black citizens pay their share of these taxes, Project 21 notes, yet the government programs funded through these taxes are then reduced or unavailable to black Americans in too many communities due to illegal residents taking advantage of them.





Just as the Trump administration was detailing its programs to provide free education, health care, counseling, shelter and food to illegal children and teens, Cooper said that it is U.S. tax paying citizens that should be first line for government services.

"Millions of people being able to stay in our country illegally not only demonstrates the failure of our immigration system, but also causes a significant strain on public services -- especially at the state and local level. Our neediest Americans, particularly blacks in urban communities, must compete for education and health programs with those who shouldn't even be here," he said in a statement accompanying the 57-point Blueprint.

“Much of the funding for these local programs comes from regressive taxes that hit poor and working-class blacks the hardest. This means they actually pay for the privilege of having unlawful immigrants in their neighborhoods. This is unfair, and it should end,” he added.

Immigration has again become a political flashpoint as the administration moves to enforce a zero-tolerance policy aimed at illegal crossings. Several liberal black leaders in Congress have gone to bat for the illegal crossers.

"To the political left, illegal immigrants are the 'new blacks.' Thus, its entitlement agenda now prioritizes those who enter our country illegally over the lawful citizens whose ancestors were here and fought for this country as far back as its founding. It's appalling and a disgrace," said Christopher Arps, a principal with Red Tail Strategies and co-founder of the Move-On-Up black social media network. "What's equally appalling and disgraceful are so-called black leaders who push these policies of unfair wealth transfer. These giveaways to non-citizens must end,” he added.

Among the ideas in the Project 21 “Blueprint” are:

