Economic Impact of Immigrants Unclear

By ALEX VEIGA
AP Business Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The debate over immigration reform resumes on Capitol Hill this week - so brace for a barrage of conflicting claims over whether the millions of people here illegally drain or fill the government's wallet.

Illegal immigrants cost $20 billion each year in education, health care and other public services. They contribute more than $7 billion annually in Social Security taxes they'll never claim.

Those are just some of the statistics that lawmakers and interest groups from both sides will trot out starting Monday when the Senate begins discussing what would be the most sweeping immigration reform legislation in 20 years.