http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_3240385

Feds' cash for jailing aliens falls way short
By Lisa Friedman, Washington Bureau


WASHINGTON - Los Angeles County will get $12.5 million from the feds next year to lock up illegal immigrants who commit crimes, but local leaders said that's barely enough to pay for their prison jumpsuits.
The money is part of $285 million Congress approved last year for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, and which the Department of Justice allocated Monday. California prisons will get $121.1 million, with $85 million going to the state.

"That's it?" said Terry Thornton, spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections, which oversees 16,178 prison inmates with immigration "holds."

At an average yearly cost of $33,581 to feed, house, clothe and provide medical treatment for each prisoner, the state tab for imprisoning illegal immigrants exceeds $543 million.

Thornton noted that the $85 million goes into the state's general fund and not directly to the Department of Corrections. Regardless, she said, "It's just a fraction of what is spent."

Steven Whitmore, spokesman for Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, agreed.

The county received $12.5 million, he said, which is what it expected.

"But our costs are $80 million to $90 million a year, so it falls way short."

Ventura County will get $564,000; Riverside County, $1.2 million; and San Bernardino County, $407,580.

Lawmakers noted that a 2006 funding bill that President George W. Bush is expected to sign significantly amps up reimbursement money to $405 million, and they vowed to push for more.

"This funding goes a long way toward ensuring that the federal government lives up to its responsibility to pay for incarcerating criminal aliens," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein. But, she said, "There is no question that far more funding is needed."