Thread: Agencies tally cost of service

http://www.rockymountainnews.com

Agencies tally cost of service

By April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News
July 6, 2006
A handful of state agency heads appeared before the Joint Budget Committee Wednesday to offer estimates of how much they're spending annually on taxpayer-funded services for illegal immigrants.
• The Department of Education estimates about $800 million is being spent to educate non-U.S.citizens.

It's unclear what percentage are illegal immigrants because federal law does not allow school districts to inquire about a person's nationality or legal status.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that illegal immigrants are entitled to a K-12 education and may participate in the federal free lunch program and other programs if they're poor.

• The Department of Human Services estimates that $3.5 million in general funds is spent to provide services to illegal immigrants, mostly to fund child protective services, mental health services and youth corrections.

Officials estimate that 88 undocumented residents are currently serving time in youth corrections programs.

Under federal law, low-income illegal immigrants are entitled to emergency medical care, including prenatal care, childbirth and immunizations at federally designated health centers such as Denver Health Medical Center and health clinics.

Several welfare programs such as the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program and protective services for abused or neglected children are based on need, not legal status. Illegal immigrants cannot qualify for welfare, Medicaid, food stamps and public housing.

•The Judicial Department estimated it spends $2.7 million to provide interpreter services. Officials could not provide a breakdown of other costs.

The Constitution requires that a public defender be appointed to anyone charged with a criminal offense if they cannot afford an attorney.

Officials testified that civil cases make up 42 percent of department's caseload. To determine citizenship of each party would require 24 full-time employees and cost nearly $1 million.

Criminal cases make up 58 percent of the caseload and are typically brought by governmental entities such as district attorneys, law enforcement agencies and social services.

• The Department of Higher Education testified that illegal immigrants are not eligible for federal and state financial aid, including work-study programs, student loans and Pell Grants. Colorado is among a number of states that does not offer in-state tuition to illegal immigrants.

• The Department of Corrections estimated that it spends $39.6 million to house foreign-born inmates.

Nearly 1,200 inmates in state prisons are foreign-born. About 976 inmates are listed as detainees who typically won't face deportation until they're paroled or near the end of their sentence.

Originally Posted by Brian503a

http://www.rockymountainnews.com

Agencies tally cost of service

By April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News
July 6, 2006


The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that illegal immigrants are entitled to a K-12 education and may participate in the federal free lunch program and other programs if they're poor.

Who gave the US Supreme Court the power to make such a ruling? How can an illegal be entitled to anything other than due process?
Obviously the Supreme Court does not recognize illegal entry as a criminal offense.