Thread: CO: Suthers: Illegal immigrants cost state $39.8M

Suthers: Illegal immigrants cost state $39.8M
By John Ingold
The Denver Post

Article Last Updated: 08/19/2008 06:39:19 PM MDT


Colorado Attorney General John Suthers has told the state's Congressional delegation in a letter that he wants the state to be reimbursed for the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants.

It cost Colorado approximately $39.8 million last fiscal year to house imprisoned illegal immigrants, according to an estimate from state Department of Corrections Executive Director Ari Zavaras, which Suthers quoted in his letter. The state received only about $3.3 million from the federal government last year to defray those costs, Suthers said.

"On behalf of the citizens of Colorado, I would ask you to make increased efforts to assist Colorado in meeting the immense financial burdens caused by inadequate enforcement of the federal immigration laws," Suthers wrote in his letter, sent to the state's two U.S. senators and seven U.S. representatives.

A state law passed during a 2006 special legislative session on immigration directs the attorney general to try to recover the costs of illegal immigration in Colorado. Suthers said he takes that requirement seriously.

"I think it's important to keep reminding them that there is a huge cost associated with this," he said.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Littleton Republican known for his controversial fight against illegal immigration, responded by accusing Denver of being a "sanctuary city" where authorities ignore immigration law.

"I would find it difficult to go to my colleagues in the Congress to say, 'Give us more money,' ... when I know that Denver is a large part of the problem," Tancredo said.

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_10247524?source=rss

Colo. Taxpayers Housing Illegal Immigrants

Last Edited: Tuesday, 19 Aug 2008, 9:52 PM MDT
Created: Tuesday, 19 Aug 2008, 9:52 PM MDT


By TAMMY VIGIL, Reporter


DENVER (MyFOXColorado.com) - Colorado taxpayers shelling out tens of millions of dollars to imprison illegal immigrants.


And now State Attorney General John Suthers wants some payback from the feds.

He sent out a letter Monday to Colorado's nine congressional members urging increased financial support for the costs of incarcerating undocumented immigrants.

State lawmakers in 2006 voted to require the attorney general's office to make reasonable efforts to recover taxpayer money used to house criminal illegal immigrants.

Last year, there was 2,185 alien offenders in the Department of Corrections. The total days they were incarcerated was 570,507 at an annual cost of $28,759 for a grand total of $44,951,263.

"The federal government only reimbursed 3.3 million or 9%," says Suthers. That mean taxpayers share of the cost was $39,832,159.

Suthers want Coloardo's congressional delegation to do more for two reasons. One because border enforcement is the fed's job. "The number 2 point is pay us. Help us meet this cost. Because this is ultimately a cost we bear because of a federal matter, immigration," he says.

But Congressman Tom Tancredo says the state must shoulder some of the costs because of its policies.

"When the state of Colorado and city of Denver, in particular, provide safe havens for people who are here illegally, then I guess, I wonder why should anyone else pay for that kind of foolhardy policy?" he questions.

He says the state must pass a law requiring employers use the E-Verify system that checks social security numbers of workers.

"If Colorado would do that, if Denver would do that, far fewer people would be here illegally. And Colorado would incur far fewer costs," he says.

The $39,832,159 taxpayers paid for imprisoning undocumented immigrants does not include what counties paid.


www.myfoxcolorado.com

39.8 mil and thats just for prisons, not courts, housing, social services,schools,medical,etc.

"U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Littleton Republican known for his controversial fight against illegal immigration, responded by accusing Denver of being a "sanctuary city" where authorities ignore immigration law.

"I would find it difficult to go to my colleagues in the Congress to say, 'Give us more money,' ... when I know that Denver is a large part of the problem," Tancredo said. "

Originally Posted by jimpasz

39.8 mil and thats just for prisons, not courts, housing, social services,schools,medical,etc.

"U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Littleton Republican known for his controversial fight against illegal immigration, responded by accusing Denver of being a "sanctuary city" where authorities ignore immigration law.

"I would find it difficult to go to my colleagues in the Congress to say, 'Give us more money,' ... when I know that Denver is a large part of the problem," Tancredo said. "

Where do these politicians think the money comes from? DO they think it grows on trees??? Even if they get reimbursed that money has to come from somewhere...

U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Littleton Republican known for his controversial fight against illegal immigration.

This is only "controversial" to the open-border zealots and biased MSM.

Originally Posted by Populist

U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Littleton Republican known for his controversial fight against illegal immigration.

This is only "controversial" to the open-border zealots and biased MSM.

So right Populist! Tancredo just wants to see our laws enforced, what a concept!

Colorado is lucky.

California's cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants is 1.4 billion dollars a year, for incarceratting upwards of 22,000 illegal immigrants.

To reduce overcrowding, as ordered by a judge, a bill was submitted to deport 17,000 of them but the Hispanic Caucus that runs the CA legislature, killed the bill in committee.

So, in lieu of deporting 17,000 illegals, Ca is in the process of releasing 22,000 allegdly non-violent felons early, without any probation.

It's all true.

Originally Posted by Buzzm1

Colorado is lucky.

California's cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants is 1.4 billion dollars a year, for incarceratting upwards of 22,000 illegal immigrants.

To reduce overcrowding, as ordered by a judge, a bill was submitted to deport 17,000 of them but the Hispanic Caucus that runs the CA legislature, killed the bill in committee.

So, in lieu of deporting 17,000 illegals, Ca is in the process of releasing 22,000 allegdly non-violent felons early, without any probation.

It's all true.

Let's see how many cross back over because you know the first to get a jail out of free card will be those IA with their morals and values and their all about family values hoopla...I wonder what exactly defines "non violent"...

wow LA County in California says they give 37 Million each MONTH to illegals
in tax generated programs

This report doesn't take into account how many jails have to be expanded because illegals usually won't post bond in Colorado. (If they end up being deported, they risk losing their cash so they'd rather rot in jail and get three squares a day on our dime.) In Eagle County, the Vail Mountaineer recently estimated that one third of the county is comprised of illegals and that's the main reason why a $5 million dollar project to expand the tiny county jail was OK'd. How many other "$5 million dollar" jail projects are in the works right now in Colorado?