http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=5808688

Assemblyman says feds should pay for jailed illegal immigrants

State lawmakers are facing a 6-month deadline from a federal judge to correct California's overcrowded prisons.

If the politicians can't come up with a solution, criminals could get out of jail early. Local Assemblyman John Benoit plans to charge the federal government for the undocumented immigrants he says are clogging the prison system.

He says that 11 percent of the state's prisoners aren't US citizens and should be handled by the federal government.

"My bill would force the state government of California to go to the federal government and say either take these illegal alien prisoners or pay for them. And if they don't do one or the other, then we would sue."

Congresswoman Mary Bono's office plans to wait for the state to make a decision before reacting.

Benoit will push for his bill when state lawmakers meet again in January.