Officials press Giffords to get border funding

Tuesday, March 20, 2007 10:01 AM PDT

By Jim Lamb

Two border county sheriffs told U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz) on Friday about how much it costs to jail illegal aliens who slip past the federal government.

Giffords said she'd work to have an increase in federal funds for SCAAP-State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.

Two sheriffs

County officials, including Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik and Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada, say if the federal government did it's job to keep illegals out, the counties wouldn't have to jail them for committing local crimes.

After the televised meeting, Giffords said that "Given the increasing importance of local law enforcement personnel to the homeland security and immigration enforcement mission, this is simply unacceptable."

Giffords was in Washington, D.C., and the others were in Tucson.

Dupnik and Estrada also told the Giffords how SCAAP funds have been declining from 1999 when Pima received $1,226,631 and Santa Cruz $173,801, to last year's $407,301 and $31,454.

"This is hurting the taxpayers," said Dupnik.

"We get reimbursed for very little of our costs," said Estrada.

President Bush has indicated he'd like to end SCAAP, saying it's not an enforcement program.

Dupnik said cutting SCAAP "eats up the taxpayers. They have to pay to board these prisoners."

He also said that Bush, as former governor of Texas, should know the problems and costs local governments face because of inadequate border security.

As well as Estrada and Dupnik, Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever and several business representatives joined the TV session with Giffords.

Estrada said the business people told Giffords that the current crackdown is hurting the economy.

"They said there needs to be a way that workers can cross easily, a better way to check their identification," said Estrada.

The Arizona House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill to stiffen penalties for hiring illegal entrants.

Giffords said she has asked the House Appropriations Committee to authorize $950 million to fund SCAAP, which pays for jailing illegals arrested in the United States.

Bush's proposed budget for fiscal 2008 does not include any SCAAP funding. "It was zeroed out," said Giffords.

Another issue was a better way to identify workers here legitimately when they take jobs.

The Arizona House on Thursday passed a bill that would give some help to employers when they check workers' identification.

Both Dupnik and Estrada praised Giffords' efforts to connect with local people to listen to problems and suggested solutions.

Dupnik said "I've been sheriff for 27 years and never had the opportunity to watch our representative take such an interest and listen to our problems."

Giffords said she and other Congress members are working to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

In a letter to leaders of a House subcommittee that would oversee the SCAAP request she said failure to fund it hampers local law enforcement authorities "to protect our communities and uphold the law."

Friday was the deadline for House appropriation requests.

The letter was also signed by fellow Arizona Reps. Ed Pastor, Raul Grijalva and Harry Mitchell, all Democrats, and Republicans Trent Franks and Rick Renzi.

(Editor's Note: Lamb may be contacted at Jim Lamb (520) 547-9749, or jlamb@gvnews.com)


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