Many critics of illegal immigrants purport that these aliens are a huge tax burden on Americans. However, the Chamber of Commerce estimates that over half of illegal immigrants use fake Social Security cards and other documentation to pay federal state income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes. These aliens know that not paying taxes can bar them from permanent residency, a status they hope to eventually achieve. Even though they are not receiving the benefits from these taxes, they are still paying into the system. Furthermore, even those illegal aliens who are not paying these taxes still pay sales taxes like every other consumer in the country, so the idea that Americans are carrying the financial burden of these immigrants, is not entirely accurate depiction of the situation.