Virginia immigrants pay billions in taxes
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Virginia's immigrants pay billions in tax revenue each year, according to a recent analysis.
Why it matters: These numbers underscore how immigrants, both documented and otherwise, contribute to local and federal economies, as the Trump administration pushes mass deportation efforts.
By the numbers: The state's 1.1 million immigrants paid $18.3 billion in taxes in 2023, per nonprofit advocacy group American Immigration Council.
- That's more than nearly every other state.
- Of the total, Virginia's undocumented immigrants and refugees paid a collective $3.2 billion.
- DACA-eligible residents and temporary protected status holders combined paid about $469 million.
Between the lines: Many non-citizens pay federal, state and local taxes, even though they're not eligible for government benefits.
The intrigue: AIC also found that immigrants account for about a quarter of the state's entrepreneurs and STEM workers despite being 13% of the population.
What we're watching: How immigration is affecting the growth of the state's metro areas.