http://www.dailybulletin.com/opinions/ci_3224329

Funds for jailing illegal immigrants still falling short
$50 million with his successful amendment. California has received nearly 40 percent of such funding over the past five years, so much of the increase will wind up here.

Congressional authorization last week to repay states $405 million in 2006 for the costs associated with keeping illegal immigrant criminals locked up was welcome news.
It's the largest allocation for such costs in four years $100 million more than last year and it shows that federal lawmakers realize they have some culpability in allowing the unchecked flow of people across our borders.

Inland Valley Congressman David Dreier, R-Glendora, boosted the spending level by $50 million with his successful amendment. California has received nearly 40 percent of such funding over the past five years, so much of the increase will wind up here.

Unfortunately, it's still not enough to cover the states' costs. California alone spends more than

$700 million a year incarcerating immigrants who have crossed the border illegally and committed crimes here, even though policing the border is Washington's responsibility.

Los Angeles County spends more than $150 million annually, but has been reimbursed about $105 million total over five years.

Last year, West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga spent $11.7 million to incarcerate illegal immigrants. But San Bernardino County as a whole was repaid less than $490,000 by the federal government, and has received less than $3 million over five years. That's not right.

So long as federal government policy is to ignore the seemingly intractable problem of illegal immigration, then it ought to pay the entire costs of its decisions.