Between 1990 and 2022, the United States accepted over 2.1 million refugees and granted asylum to more than 800,000 individuals. These individuals were accepted into our country for humanitarian purposes but also had an impact on the American economy. This report presents the first federal study estimating the net fiscal impact of refugees and asylees on government finances, focusing on the period from 2005 to 2019. The study aims to inform federal decision-making regarding resettlement services and enhance the understanding of the economic contributions of refugees and asylees. The study finds that the net fiscal impact of refugees and asylees was positive over the 15-year period, amounting to $123.8 billion. The federal government benefited by $31.5 billion, while state and local governments saw a net benefit of $92.3 billion. This study did not examine the fiscal impact of the offspring of refugees and asylees. Nor did it estimate the impact of subgroups of refugees, such as country of origin, length of time in the U.S., or English proficiency. In addition, the study only examined the 15-year period from 2005 through 2019, and thus the results may not be generalizable to other time periods.
The Fiscal Impact of Refugees and Asylees at the Federal, State, and Local Levels from 2005 to 2019,
Department of Health and Human Services, February 2024, 53 pp.
Authors: Robin Ghertner et alz