California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have criticized President Donald Trump over the financial cost of deploying troops to contain anti-ICE riots in their jurisdiction—a cost significantly lower than the amount taxpayers spend on services for illegal immigrants in the state.
Just an absolutely shameful use of taxpayer dollars that could be used to actually HELP people,” Bass recently posted on X. “Despicable.”
“$134 million that should be going to LA’s fire recovery,” Newsom posted on X. “Shameful.”
Many on social media responded to their posts by highlighting the billions of taxpayer dollars spent on illegal immigrants in California. Among those weighing in was White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller.
“Wait till you find out how many trillions we have to spend on illegal aliens,” Miller posted on X in response to Newsom.
“Now do the $9 billion you drained out of our state treasury to fund your free healthcare for illegals immigrants scheme,” campaign strategist Andrew Clark posted on X.
“How many billions have you spent on illegals Gavin? It’s well into the hundreds of billions,”Conservative activist and filmmaker Robby Starbuck posted on X. “THAT money should have gone to your citizens and fire recovery but you gave it to illegals.
Recent studies reviewed by Fox News Digital reveal that California spends at least tens of billions of dollars annually on illegal immigrants—far exceeding the $134 million cost of deploying federal troops to respond to recent rioting.
A cost analysis by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), highlighted in a 2023 press release by the House Budget Committee, estimated that California spent over $22 billion in 2022 alone on benefits and services provided to illegal immigrants.
Meanwhile, the state — under the leadership of Newsom and a Democratic supermajority in the California Assembly — are running a $12 billion budget deficit while maintaining some of the highest taxes, housing costs, and regulatory environment in the country.
In a more recent cost analysis, FAIR estimated that services for illegal immigrants cost California taxpayers $31 billion annually. A 2019 FAIR study also found that the state spends over $2 billion each year on incarceration and court-related costs for illegal immigrants.
Earlier this year, Newsom requested an additional $2.8 billion loan to help cover a growing deficit in California’s Medicaid program—a shortfall driven in large part by the expanded coverage of illegal immigrants.
Last year, California became the first state to expand Medi-Cal coverage to all low-income adults ages 26 to 49, regardless of immigration status. According to state data, approximately 1.6 million illegal immigrants are now enrolled in the program, alongside 15 million other California residents.
Beyond the substantial taxpayer spending on individuals in the country illegally, a recent WalletHub study found that California ranks near the bottom nationally in taxpayer return on investment. The study compared state and local tax collections with the quality of services provided in areas such as education, healthcare, public safety, the economy, and infrastructure.
California placed 47th overall in taxpayer efficiency, the finance company found.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin pushed back against criticism from California Democrats, noting that without swift action by federal troops, the rioters could cause millions of dollars in property damage—an expense that would ultimately fall on taxpayers.
“Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass are conveniently ignoring the high price of mass looting, rioters destroying LA’s family businesses, public property, and setting cars and other property on fire,” McLaughlin said.
“President Trump will not stand by while these lawless rioters loot and destroy a great American city. Newsom and Bass should be thanking President Trump for providing additional support to restore law and order and stop the destruction of LA.”