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Illegal Immigrants Pay Income Tax, Won't Get Deported Says Initiative

SACRAMENTO, Calif- A new tax proposal could be the answer to our state's budget mess. The proposal?  Tax illegal immigrants.

The people behind the initiative said they can get illegal immigrants to pay income taxes, but first the Governor must get a promise from the federal government, it won't go after anyone here illegally and is part of the program.

"Trying to get the federal government to not spend resources on those folks who are filing and paying I don't know why that would come about, I would suspect some sort of political motivation in Sacramento visa vie Washington."

Attorney Blanca Zarazua deals with tax law and is an honorary consul for Mexico. She said the proposed five year program that uses a no-deportation incentive to push undocumented workers to pay state income taxes may not be necessary

"Once they find out there is that requirment, historically there has been enough years where people have filed returns and there is no referral to immigration. So I think the word is out that it's a good thing to do and it won't result in an immigration referral."

According to some recent independent studies there's proof that illegal immigrants are filing taxes. 

Infact a 2010 study by the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy found California got $2.7 billion dollars from illegal immigrants including sales, property and income tax.

Zarazua said locally if undocumented workers have the means, they will file and it seems this is another option to get the state some much needed cash.

"...Just visually if you go to certain parts of the county you will see people trying to comply...To the extent that you dont have 100% participation by undocumented folks or U.S. citizens maybe to close that gap so you get closer to 100%."

The initiative must collect just over 500,000 signatures by July to make it to the ballot.