Maine taxpayers are expected to contribute more than $823 million toward Pres. Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda, money that could instead provide Medicaid coverage for nearly 32,000 Mainers, health care for more than 16,000 veterans or salaries for more than 3,100 public school teachers, according to a new analysis.
The Cost of Deportations calculator, developed by the Economic Policy Institute, estimates how much taxpayers across the country will contribute to federal immigration enforcement through the remainder of Trump’s term and what those dollars could fund instead.
The calculator uses federal tax data to estimate each state’s share of nearly $269 billion in projected national deportation spending. The figures represent projected costs, not money already spent.
In Maine’s 1st Congressional District, taxpayers are projected to contribute roughly $550.6 million, averaging $1,880 per taxpayer. In the 2nd District, the estimated cost is $259.5 million, or $1,177 per taxpayer.
Chena Immel, a South Portland resident who has multiple health conditions that limit her ability to work full time, said accessing affordable health coverage has become increasingly difficult. Although she works part-time, she struggles to afford private insurance and does not qualify for MaineCare.
“So many Mainers are struggling to afford health insurance and get health care where they need it,” Immel said. “Meanwhile, Mainers’ tax dollars are paying $823 million to fund mass deportations. …Our tax dollars should be spent on supporting our communities, not tearing them apart.”
The calculator also allows residents to explore projected deportation costs by county and municipality, comparing those amounts with potential investments in nursing, affordable housing, food assistance, Head Start and paid family leave.
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