When tax compliance is weaponized because of the "status" of an individual there is a risk in attempting compliance and a risk in non-compliance. The undocumented in the USA have a lot in common with US citizens outside the USA. (NYTImes.com gift article)www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/u…
— John Richardson (@expatriationlaw.bsky.social) 2026-04-17T12:52:36.628Z
U.S. citizens living outside the United States and “undocumented U.S. residents” have a great deal in common. They are both subjected to (1) more punitive taxation than U.S. residents with legal immigration status and (2) are forced to pay for programs they will never benefit from.
In addition, the integrity of tax systems is (I believe) dependent on their being focused on tax administration and not being used for other (including immigration) purposes. The New York Times article (referenced above) is an excellent example of using tax information for other purposes and who this creates disincentives to tax compliance.
I discuss this problem in more detail in the following post published at the Isaac Brock Society.
John Richardson – Follow me on X.com/ExpatriationLaw