In a significant event, Florida officials, including former rival Governor Ron DeSantis, gathered alongside former President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for a tour discussing immigration issues. During the tour, DeSantis revealed that Noem's team indicated the facility would soon be opened to receive migrants following Trump's departure. Trump engaged for more than an hour, addressing various topics including the potential impact of new legislation on Medicaid, responding positively to a suggestion to arrest former President Joe Biden's Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and reiterating his long-standing grievance about showerheads lacking adequate water pressure.
During the event, Noem made headlines with her assertion that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had detained a “cannibal” who reportedly “started to eat himself” on an airplane. This claim, alongside Trump's remarks, prompted a closer examination of the accuracy of their statements.
One of Trump's notable claims involved the financial impact of illegal immigration on American taxpayers. He stated, “The average illegal alien costs American taxpayers an estimated $70,000.” This estimate originates from the Center for Immigration Studies, an organization that advocates for reduced immigration levels. Critics have challenged the validity of this estimation. According to testimony from Steven A. Camarota, the research director at the Center for Immigration Studies, the lifetime fiscal drain for each illegal immigrant is approximately $68,000. However, Camarota noted that this figure comes with caveats, such as the percentage of immigrants using welfare programs and the benefits they receive, alongside their use of public services.
Contrary to Trump's assertions, various analyses indicate that immigration can yield positive economic outcomes. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in a report published in 2024, found both costs and benefits associated with the Biden administration's increase in immigration. The CBO projected an $8.9 trillion boost to the gross domestic product (GDP) over ten years due to the influx of migrants, which could enhance wages, salaries, and corporate profits. Furthermore, the CBO estimated that federal deficits would decrease by nearly $1 trillion over the same period, thanks to increased tax revenues generated by migrants, which would outweigh their associated costs.
Moreover, the libertarian Cato Institute reported in 2023 that immigrants contribute nearly $1 trillion in taxes at the state, local, and federal levels, significantly exceeding the government benefits they receive. Renowned economist Michael A. Clemens from George Mason University explained that while the Center for Immigration Studies counted immigrants' use of public schools as a cost, many economists, including himself, perceive public school funding as delivering net positive benefits.
In a controversial statement, Trump suggested that the challenges faced by the Biden administration stemmed from an “autopen” used to forge the president’s signature without his knowledge. This conspiracy theory has gained traction in pro-Trump circles, yet no evidence supports the assertion that any documents signed by Biden, whether using an autopen or not, lacked his consent. Legal experts confirm that any document signed with an autopen remains valid, a fact that has been reiterated in past fact-checks.
When pressed by reporters about the implications of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” on Medicaid, Trump claimed that the estimated 11.8 million individuals who could potentially lose their health coverage represented merely waste, fraud, and abuse. However, this statement was rated False in previous analyses, highlighting that the changes to Medicaid extend beyond these concerns. The 11.8 million figure stems from a CBO analysis, which noted that while some provisions may enhance the detection of ineligible beneficiaries, other aspects of the bills align with Trump's ideological agenda.
Key provisions of the proposed legislation include incentivizing states to cease using their funds to support individuals in the U.S. illegally, requiring beneficiaries to engage in work or approved activities, and enforcing bans on Medicaid payments for gender-affirming care. These changes would significantly alter the fiscal landscape of the program without exclusively targeting waste, fraud, or abuse.
Trump also exaggerated the number of migrants entering the country under Biden's administration, claiming, “In the four years before I took office, Joe Biden allowed 21 million people… illegal aliens to invade our country.” This claim has been rated False by fact-checking organizations. During Biden's presidency, immigration officials recorded around 10 million encounters with individuals illegally crossing the U.S. border. When considering “got aways,” the estimated number rises to about 11.6 million encounters. However, it’s crucial to note that encounters do not equate to admissions, as many individuals are expelled or removed upon being encountered.
Data from the Department of Homeland Security indicates that approximately 4 million encounters under Biden resulted in expulsions, while about 3.8 million individuals were released into the U.S. to await immigration court hearings. These figures illustrate the complex dynamics of immigration under the current administration.
In conclusion, Trump's remarks during the Florida tour prompted a thorough fact-checking process, revealing a mixture of exaggerated claims and misleading statements regarding immigration, Medicaid, and economic impacts. As the debate over immigration policy continues, it's essential for voters to stay informed with accurate information.
