Undocumented immigrants play a vital role in Colorado’s economy—and they contribute far more than they receive. In 2022 alone, they paid hundreds of millions in taxes that help fund public programs like Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment insurance, even though they are excluded from accessing these benefits. In this report, Sophie Shea, policy analyst at the Colorado Fiscal Institute, breaks down the data behind these contributions and explains why expanding access to public programs for all taxpayers is not only fair, but essential to building a stronger, more inclusive economy.

Download the Two-Page Report