League of Women Voters of Maryland

IMMIGRATION SB 52 (Pipkin and Harris) – State Government – Task Force to Study the Cost of Illegal Aliens in Maryland. This bill would create a task force to study the fiscal impact of unauthorized immigrants on the State’s economy and would make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly regarding possible legislation to address any problems the Task Force might identify. The bill as written would limit the parameters of the Task Force’s study to costs of benefits and services for which unauthorized immigrants might be eligible. Similar studies in other states have weighed such considerations against taxes paid and contributions to the economy by such immigrants, to arrive at a net cost or benefit estimate. The League will submit brief testimony suggesting that such a task force, if created, be authorized to analyze net costs or benefits.