Cameron County Forced to Pay for Housing Illegal Immigrants

Federal government will not refund millions of dollars

POSTED: 11:24 PM CST Feb 02, 2015


Cameron County Forced to Pay for Housing Illegal Immigrants


BROWNSVILLE -Millions of tax dollars spent to house illegal immigrants charged with crimes will not be refunded to Cameron County. Sheriff Omar Lucio said the federal government will only reimburse approximately one quarter of the $2.6 million spent housing illegal immigrants. That means the county will only get back approximately $650,000.

Lucio said his department needs the money.

"We need to pay our jailers better money, no question about it. We lose a lot of jailers constantly," Lucio said.

Lucio said there are no funds to increase jailer salaries or purchase upgraded technology, like cameras and radios.

Lucio said his department is spending millions to house, feed and clothe illegal immigrants charged with crimes.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards tracks the amounts spent on illegal immigrants.

"It's a lot of money. The taxpayers are the ones that are footing the bill," Lucio said.

Many Cameron County residents said they don't want their tax dollars used to take care of criminals here illegally.

"State congressmen should pay more attention to this and facilitate more personnel to control the people that cross in that create this expense," Cornelio Landin said.

Adrian Rincones, a finance advisor, said the cost is necessary.

"They're criminals that need to be put through the justice system like anybody else. If we don't pay for it, who will?" Rincones said.

The federal government is supposed to pay for it under the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP).

In 2012, the jail spent more than $3.2 million to take care of criminals here illegally. The SCAAP program reimbursed the county only $280,000.

http://www.krgv.com/news/local-news/...rants/31060408