The problem, in general, in assessing this point is that real data that separate the native and foreign born populations are scarce or non-existent. Even worse, the sparse data that are available are usually on the costs side of the equation with little information available on the benefits. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than with public education. There is little doubt that the costs associated with educating large numbers of first and second generation immigrant children are a burden on the educational system, especially in a city like New York where first and second generation immigrants represent an increasing percentage of young people. More difficult to quantify, however, are the long-term benefits of educating these children.
Immigrants pay taxes as well, of course.
They come to New York motivated by a desire to improve the lot of their children, and the education of these children represents an investment in the labor force of tomorrow. We often hear that immigrants are a public assistance burden. In New York, it is almost impossible to make generalizations about such recipiency. Available data indicate that most immigrant groups have lower than average levels of public assistance recipiency. It is too soon to know whether this is a temporary phenomenon as immigrants assimilate to the American labor market.