Though undocumented individuals comprise just 3.3% of the US population, they are overrepresented in the workforce, occupying some of the most dangerous and undesirable jobs available. In these roles, undocumented workers are frequently exploited by their employers, reporting pay below the minimum wage and six- and seven-day workweeks of sometimes more than 60 total hours without overtime pay. Yet deportations don’t seem to help other American workers: a 2023 study found that, for every 500,000 undocumented workers deported, there were 44,000 fewer jobs available to American-born citizens.

Despite facing stacked odds and workplace abuse, undocumented workers contribute more to the US economy than many of their employers — literally. An analysis by Americans for Tax Fairness found that, in 2022, undocumented workers paid a higher effective tax rate (5.27%) than 55 Fortune 500 companies, including Bank of America (4.21%), ExxonMobil (2.5%), and AT&T (3.1%).