Let the feds get the bill

(Manassas Journal Messenger Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 10--

It turns out that the cost of jailing criminal illegal immigrants in the Prince William-Manassas regional jail is more than expected. And now, jail officials are asking the Prince William Board of County Supervisors for more money.

However, in a refreshing change of pace, the money officials are asking for wouldn't actually come from county taxpayers. They are asking for the use of $779,175 in federal funds to balance their budget.

The money was actually earned by the county from the federal government, paying for the ICE inmates being held in the jail system.

It is a time of financial difficulty for many jurisdictions, including Prince William County. We question the wisdom of using already thinly-stretched county dollars to fund some of the county's anti-illegal

immigration measures, but we are encouraged when we see one of the county's measures being paid for responsibly and without burden to the county taxpayers.

It is a good idea to take criminal illegal immigrants off the streets and ultimately deport them. We support the jail's efforts to identify those who come into its system and get them out. We hope they can continue to do so with the help of ICE and federal government dollars.

Responsible illegal immigration policies will sway the opinions of the public better than knee-jerk reactions. And the 287(g) agreement between ICE and the jail is one of the better policies that have come out of this illegal immigration fight. We are glad it can continue without extra cost to the county.
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