Index/Organizations/Economic Policy Institute

Economic Policy Institute

Non-profit American public policy think tank

Fact-Checks

67 results
Oct 12, 2025
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numbers of deportions by President

President Trump’s administration increased removals in 2025 but did not reach its stated target of one million deportations; official ICE data cited in multiple reports documents , with monthly rates ...

Dec 6, 2025
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How much money do undocumented immigrants contribute to the United States economy

Undocumented immigrants pay substantial taxes and provide major labor-market contributions: several analyses estimate they paid roughly $96–97 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022, and ot...

Jan 17, 2026
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do illegal immgrants have a negative or postive effect on america

Illegal (unauthorized/undocumented) immigrants produce measurable economic benefits for the United States—contributing taxes, filling essential jobs, and supporting GDP growth—while also creating loca...

Nov 25, 2025

How did Clinton's use of social security funds for budget balancing compare to other presidential administrations?

President Clinton pledged to "save Social Security first" and to reserve the unified budget surplus for Social Security reform rather than using it for other purposes, and his administration proposed ...

Dec 6, 2025

When was the last federal minimum wage increase in the US?

The last federally enacted increase before 2025 was in 2009, when the federal minimum wage was set at $7.25 per hour and remained unchanged for more than a decade . In 2025 reporting and analyses show...

Jan 27, 2026

Are illegal immigrants a problem in the USA?

cannot be reduced to a single label of "problem" or "non-problem"; evidence from government analysts and economic researchers shows that unauthorized immigrants produce measurable economic benefits at...

Dec 11, 2025

What percentage of Black Americans rely on SNAP food stamps?

About one in eight Americans — roughly 42.4 million people — received SNAP benefits in the first eight months of fiscal 2025 (Oct. 2024–May 2025) . Multiple data summaries of USDA reporting show that ...

Nov 19, 2025

What is the overall participation rate in SNAP benefits by race?

Recent federal data show Whites are the largest single racial group among SNAP recipients (about 35% of recipients), with Black non‑Hispanic people comprising roughly 25–26% and Hispanic people about ...

Jan 18, 2026

How useful are illegal immigrants to America

Undocumented (often called “illegal”) immigrants make measurable fiscal and economic contributions to the United States: they pay billions in federal, state and local taxes, contribute to Social Secur...

Dec 17, 2025

What is the racial/ethnic breakdown of SNAP recipients in the United States in 2024?

USDA data for fiscal year 2023–2024 show that whites are the largest single racial group of SNAP recipients — about 35–37% — followed by Black/African American (about 25–26%) and Hispanic (about 15–16...

Nov 6, 2025

are billionaires a good thing?

Billionaires concentrate vast resources and influence, and credible analyses show both harms—through inherited or politically connected wealth, tax avoidance, and disproportionate political and enviro...

Dec 11, 2025

What was the estimated cost of Trump's deportation policies to the US taxpayer?

Estimates of the taxpayer cost of President Trump’s deportation agenda vary widely depending on scope: enforcement spending authorized in recent legislation and executive plans is commonly cited betwe...

Dec 4, 2025

How did real wages, unemployment, and purchasing power change relative to inflation under Obama, Trump, and Biden?

Real wages rose at various points under Biden, with outlets noting inflation peaked at about 9% in 2022 and later fell to roughly 2.9% by the end of his term . Inflation fell from its Biden-era peak i...

Dec 13, 2025

What was the new federal minimum wage amount after the last increase and when did it take effect?

The most recent reporting in the provided sources says the federal minimum wage was increased from $7.25 to $9.50 per hour, with most outlets saying the change took effect in mid-November 2025 (dates ...

Nov 11, 2025

Union-busring techniques

Employers across sectors regularly deploy a mix of legal, coercive, and illegal —from hiring anti‑union consultants and running captive‑audience meetings to tactical delays and targeted discipline—to ...

Nov 25, 2025

Are medical expenses a leading cause of bankruptcy?

Research and advocacy studies have long reported that medical problems contribute to a large share of U.S. bankruptcies—classic estimates put that share around 40–62%, and a 2009-style projection coun...

Oct 29, 2025

The Clintons started NAFTA which sent most American jobs to foreign countries

The claim that "the Clintons started NAFTA which sent most American jobs to foreign countries" mixes partial truth with overreach: Bill Clinton championed and secured congressional ratification of NAF...

Dec 19, 2025

How would legalizing undocumented immigrants change GDP, tax revenue, and labor market outcomes?

Legalizing undocumented immigrants is projected by many mainstream analyses to raise GDP, increase tax revenues, and alter labor markets modestly — typically boosting economic output and government re...

Dec 7, 2025

What academic studies and datasets compare economic performance across party control of the White House and Congress?

A clear body of academic work and public datasets compares U.S. macroeconomic outcomes by presidential and congressional party control; multiple studies find a post‑WWII “Democratic advantage” — often...

Nov 24, 2025

What are the economic and social impacts of undocumented immigration on US communities?

Undocumented immigrants play significant roles in U.S. labor markets and public finances: several analyses find immigration supports labor-force growth and reduces long‑run budget deficits overall (EP...