CBO reveals the astronomical cost taxpayers would pay to legalize 'Dreamers

The cost of legalizing undocumented immigrants known as “Dreamers” would be astronomical for taxpayers, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

How much?

According to the Washington Times, the CBO said last week that legalizing the more than 2 million Dreamers in the U.S. would cost taxpayers nearly $26 billion over the next 10 years.

The costs are calculated based on the welfare, tax, education and other benefits the immigrants would receive. Plus, the CBO said the Dreamers would bring an additional 80,000 immigrants to the U.S., adding to the liability.

In total, the immigrants and their families would cost taxpayers $26.8 billion, but only pay back $.9 billion in taxes, the CBO said. The analysis found that roughly 3.25 million undocumented immigrants are eligible for Dreamer status, while only 2 million would apply and only 1.6 million would be accepted over the next decade.

Dreamers are undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents. Under a 2012 executive action by former President Barack Obama, undocumented immigrants were allowed to apply for and hold temporary work permits if they met certain criteria.

What is Trump doing about the Dreamers?

The White House announced in September that President Donald Trump would not be renewing Obama's executive order and put a six-month trigger on his decision.

At the time, many believed Trump wasn't necessarily ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, but instead, giving Congress the opportunity to establish the program legislatively.

Trump later said Congress had "no choice" but to pass DACA through its chambers. Nearly 800,000 nationwide are recipients of DACA.

"I have a love for these people and hopefully now Congress will be able to help them and do it properly," he said in September.