Thread: California steps up efforts on cost of imprisoned illegals

California steps up efforts on cost of imprisoned illegal immigrants

9:53 AM | April 10, 2009

Fifteen years after Congress promised that Washington would help states pick up the tab for imprisoning illegal immigrants convicted of committing crimes, California is receiving but a fraction — less than 12 cents on the dollar — of its nearly $1-billion annual cost.

The unfulfilled promise is perhaps the most glaring example of the federal government shortchanging California. Officials from states heavily impacted by illegal immigration long have argued that their taxpayers should not have to bear the burden for Washington’s failure to control the border.

But Congress this year provided $400 million nationwide to cover the cost of keeping illegal immigrants behind bars — less than what was provided a decade ago. In that same period, California’s share of the federal money has declined from 68% to 39%.

“California’s percentage of the total amount gets smaller and smaller each year as the issue of criminal aliens becomes more of a national problem,â€

If the federal government had secured the border after the 1986 amnesty there wouldn't be millions of illegal aliens here now and our state prisons wouldn't be full of illegals who have committed crimes in every state in the country. The FEDS created this mess and they should pay for it.

Idiots! Ripping off the taxpayers of the rest of the country for their sanctuary criminal aliens. I added my comments in disgust.

(Just noticed my comments don't show up on their blog.)

Schwarzenegger, Villaraigosa, Baca push ballot measures

1:17 PM | April 10, 2009

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pulled in support today from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, educators and business leaders for a package of initiatives they say would address California’s economic hardships and establish long-term solutions to prevent future budget meltdowns.

“This is the only way out of the morass of budget battle over the last decade,â€

Officials from states heavily impacted by illegal immigration long have argued that their taxpayers should not have to bear the burden for Washington’s failure to control the border.

A sanctuary state such as California shouldn't receive one red cent of our tax dollars to assist in dealing with the problem. Can someone please tell me what legislative action the state has taken to discourage illegals from coming to California?

It just doesn't make any sense. California lawmakers encourage and welcome illegals but when it comes time to pay the bill they look to the federal government to bail them out with our tax dollars.

Call it tough love if you will but we need to do something to encourage the citizens of California to rise up against their lawmakers to force them into dealing with the issue more pro-actively.

The measures would increase the size of the state’s rainy day fund, limit future state spending, borrow $5 billion against the lottery; reduce funding for early childhood education and mental health services; and freeze state elected officials' salaries when the budget is late. The governor, a Republican, praised the bipartisan support for the measures as he stood with the Democratic L.A. mayor. A special election is scheduled for May 19.

Not one single initiative designed to deal with the illegals that are contributing greatly to California's woes.

HERE IS WHAT CALIFORNIANS TRIED TO DO

BUT THEY COULDN'T GET THEM PASSED



CALIFORNIA IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN FOR BALANCED BUDGET

SACRAMENTO, CA -- State lawmakers unveiled a package of 20 bills, aimed at saving money and balancing the state budget by targeting illegal aliens.

Assembly members want to chip away at the state deficit by checking the immigration status of those getting state-funded social benefits and jobs. They especially want to crackdown on those who have committed crimes.

"California is on a financial life raft that is sinking, but at the same time, we continue to pull on more and more people on board," said Assemblyman Jim Silva (R) of Huntington Beach.

Many of the proposals concentrate on criminal activity because in 2006 - 2007, it cost the state roughly $850,000,000 million dollars to incarcerate more than 17,000 illegal immigrants.

Among the proposals:
- Adding ten years to prison sentences for felonies if the illegal had been previously deported.
- Checking the immigration status of DUI offenders
- Requiring local law enforcement to cooperate with INS
- Denying bail for gang-related or violent crimes
- And reporting dangerous juveniles to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.

"To the extent we have criminal activity in our state, we should address it very, very vigorously" said state Senior Gil Cedillo (D) of Los Angeles, Vice-Chairman of the Latino Caucus.

"I think the law enforcement agencies in my city should be focused on crime and violence, which is starting to creep up," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Assemblyman John Benoit(R) of Bermuda Dunes is a law enforcement veteran-turned politician, who says it's time cops are part of the solution.
"I have been involved in stopping, finding, and in some cases, deporting people here illegally. I think the rule of law is the reason the United States stands out among nations," said Assemblyman Benoit.

The federal government is supposed to help pay for jailing illegal immigrants who commit crimes, but California got reimbursed only $100,000,000 dollars last year, less than 13 percent of the actual costs.
http://abclocal.go.com:80/kgo/story?sec ... id=6042094

CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL (NO INSTATE TUITION FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS)

NUMBER: AB 454 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT

INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Knight

FEBRUARY 24, 2009

An act to repeal Section 68130.5 of the Education Code, and to
repeal Section 1 of Chapter 814 of the Statutes of 2001, relating to
public postsecondary education.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 454, as introduced, Knight. Public postsecondary education:
exemption from nonresident tuition.

Existing law requires that a person, other than a nonimmigrant
alien, as defined, who has attended high school in California for 3
or more years, who has graduated from a California high school or
attained the equivalent thereof, who has registered at or attends an
accredited institution of higher education in California not earlier
than the fall semester or quarter of the 2001-02 academic year, and
who, if he or she is an alien without lawful immigration status, has
filed an affidavit as specified, be exempt from paying nonresident
tuition at the California Community Colleges and the California State
University. The act enacting that exemption made related legislative
findings and declarations.

This bill would repeal the exemption and those legislative
findings and declarations.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.

http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/a ... duced.html

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-151700-cal ... enate+bill

JohnDoe2 wrote:

HERE IS WHAT CALIFORNIANS TRIED TO DO

BUT THEY COULDN'T GET THEM PASSED

Exactly, that's what I'm talking about. Too many of California's lawmakers are bought and paid for by the pro-illegal alien special interest groups. That needs to change.

Remember this story?

PRESS RELEASE
California Budget Meltdown Would be Lessened by Combating Increases in Illegal Immigration

Last update: 5:01 p.m. EST Feb. 6, 2009

WASHINGTON, Feb 06, 2009 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- California state lawmakers now grappling with a $40 billion budget deficit were advised five years ago of the mounting costs of illegal immigration in the state. In 2004, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) issued a study of the fiscal cost of illegal immigration to Californians. At that time, the cost to the state's taxpayers was $10.54 billion a year. That estimate included the cost of educating the children of illegal aliens - both those illegally in the country and those born here - in K-12 public schools, emergency medical care, and incarceration of criminal aliens.

While these annual costs for illegal immigration have been steadily draining California's budget year after year, the costs have risen and are placing an even greater strain on the state's resources in 2009. The original 2004 cost estimate was based on an illegal alien population estimated at 2,900,000. Today, FAIR estimates California's illegal alien population has grown to 3,200,000, a 10.3 percent increase. As a result of both the continued growth in the illegal alien population and the higher cost of governmental services, the current fiscal cost outlays for the illegal alien population in California are now approaching $13.1 billion annually - more than half the projected shortfall for next year.

"California is melting down with an unemployment rate of 9.3 percent, 257,400 jobs lost in 2008, median home values plummeting 50% since spring of 2007, and the lowest S&P bond rating of all fifty states," said Dan Stein, President of FAIR. "While Governor Schwarzenegger is proposing draconian cuts in spending, ordering furloughs for state employees, and delaying expected taxpayer refunds, he continues to ignore the budget-busting cost of illegal immigration. With the highest concentration of illegal aliens of any state - nearly one in eight residents is illegal - it's no wonder California is in the mess it is."

"California state officials need to acknowledge the fiscal impact of illegal immigration and remove the welcome mat to those who are not entitled to residence, employment or most benefits. A big chunk of the state deficit could be cut over time if the state adopted measures that effectively complemented federal efforts to deter illegal immigration. The interests of law abiding residents of California must take precedence over continued pandering to ethno-centric special interest amnesty groups and unscrupulous employers looking for cheap labor," observed Stein.
About FAIR

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 250,000 members nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

Copyright (C) 2009 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/c ... 1AE8AEE%7D

Exactly, that's what I'm talking about. Too many of California's lawmakers are bought and paid for by the pro-illegal alien special interest groups. That needs to change.

You make it sound so easy, so I guess North Carolina must be completely free of illegal aliens.
If not then it must not be easy as you try to make it sound.
If I'm wrong and it's as easy as you try to make it sound
maybe you should go to California and show them how to do it.
We need to all work together here and not blame people in other states
who are doing everything that they can to solve the problem of illegal aliens.

County jails throughout North Carolina are stressed to the limit with illegal immigrants, law-enforcement officials say . . .
www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/disp ... ml?id=3465


Illegal Aliens Are Hurting North Carolina There are currently 12 million illegal aliens in the United States .

North Carolina has the 8th largest illegal alien population in the country estimated at . . .

www.house.gov/list/speech/nc09_myrick/i ... 42006.html - 15k - Cached - Similar pages