Thread: As reported on Lou Dobbs-Border Co. Costs of Criminal IAs

From 1999 through 2006, the 24 counties along the U.S.-Mexico border spent a cumulative $1.23 billion on services to process criminal undocumented immigrants through the law enforcement and criminal justice system. In fiscal year 2006 alone, the cost was $192 million. Yet, the federal government has only reimbursed these 24 counties $4.7 million for detaining criminal undocumented immigrants for fiscal year 2006 (and $54.8 million since 1999). These are staggering costs considering the rural nature and poverty level of most of these border counties. The costs to process undocumented immigrants come at the expense of basic, vital services to county residents. (Undocumented Immigrants in U.S. Border Counties: The Costs of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Services; U.S.-Mexico Border Counties Coalition February 2008. http://www.bordercounties.org/vertical/ ... 96E%7D.PDF

Lou reported that Bush wants to cut the SCAP program which mandates the reimbursements but only does so at a measly 4% for every dollar spent for incarceration of illegals.