Thread: Study: States bear the brunt of illegal immigrant costs

http://www.gazette.com/display.php?id=1318885&secid=1

June 30, 2006

Study: States bear the brunt of illegal immigrant costs


THE GAZETTE

Illegal immigrants in Colorado use nearly $225 million in state and local government services annually, according to research issued today by the Denver-based Bell Policy Center.

The illegal immigrants also pay state and local taxes of between $159 million and $194 million, the center's study found. That leaves a gap of at least $31 million illegal immigrants cost state and local governments, according to the center's research.

"The real issue may be that the federal government should do a better job reimbursing the states for these costs," said Bell Policy Center President Wade Buchanan in a statement accompanying the research.

The center's study accounted for the cost of providing education, emergency health care and jails for illegal immigrants statewide. Those services are required under federal law and court rulings.

No one knows how many illegal immigrants live in Colorado, but experts generally rely on estimates from the Washington-based Pew Hispanic Center, which this year guessed Colorado's population at 225,000 to 275,000. The Pew Hispanic Center estimates the national population of illegal immigrants at up to 12 million, and other researchers have put it higher than 20 million.

The Bell Policy Center's findings clash with a study released earlier this year by Defend Colorado Now, a group pushing for a ballot measure that would prohibit government services to illegal immigrants except those required by law. The Defend Colorado Now study estimated illegal immigrants cost taxpayers more than $1 billion a year.

"The real issue may be that the federal government should do a better job reimbursing the states for these costs," said Bell Policy Center President Wade Buchanan in a statement accompanying the research.

Whether it comes out the state or federal government the American taxpayer is still the one footing the bill.