As the Heritage study points out, the average American tends to be a "net taxpayer" during his or her working years -- that is to say, pays the government more in taxes than the cost of the services he or she consumes. Then, in retirement, we become "net tax takers" -- receiving more in benefits than the taxes we pay.
Not so in the lucky households of low-skilled immigrants! Whatever the age of the head of household, the benefits received by low-skilled immigrants (i.e., those without high school diplomas) "far exceed" the taxes they pay. In fiscal 2004 alone, their net haul was $89.1 billion. And Rector and Kim calculate that, assuming an average adult life span of 60 years for each head of household, the average lifetime cost to the taxpayers will be nearly $1.2 million for every low-skill household.
So taxpayers, get ready to show your compassion if the current immigration "reform" bill gets through Congress.