Thread: FL: Jailed illegal immigrants cost Collier taxpayers $9 mill

FL: By Ryan Mills

Monday, June 18, 2007

Illegal immigrants who are incarcerated in Collier County jails cost local taxpayers more than $9 million a year, Sheriff Don Hunter told the Collier County Public Safety Coordinating Council today.

In an attempt to address the number and cost of illegal immigrants in Collier jails, Hunter said the Collier County Criminal Immigration Task Force is beginning to tackle three new components, which should make it easier to identify and ultimately remove criminal aliens from the country.

Hunter was the first speaker at the council’s quarterly meeting at the Human Resources building in the Collier County Government Center.

The purpose of the council, which is comprised of members of the County Commission, the Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office and various nonprofits, is to assess the population status of all detention and correctional facilities in the county.

The council also ensures that the capacities of the lockups aren’t exceeded.

“If these people were not here in our country, they would not be in our jail and costing us millions to house and feed,â€

Commissioner: Illegal immigrants costing too much

6/19/2007 6:27:07 PM by Adam Freeman

COLLIER COUNTY: One Collier County Commissioner says illegal immigrants are costing taxpayers around $70 million a year. But he says he has a unique plan to put a stop to it.

From the classrooms to the emergency rooms, commissioner Fred Coyle says the cost of illegal immigrants is weighing down Collier residents.

"They can't pay for their services, so we have to pay for those," said Coyle. “Those who come here illegally, in my opinion, are not welcome. They put an inordinate burden on our economy and it should not be tolerated.â€

There is some great information in this article and the amount of money and crime is unbelieveable.

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LEE COUNTY: Lee County Sheriff’s Office Marine Units are changing the way they patrol our waters in the wake of recent landings by Cuban immigrants. Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott sat down with NBC2 to discuss his new strategy.

"The reality of it is our country has been a sponge absorbing illegal immigrants," said Scott.

Scott said he's concerned about the recent landings and he's increased patrols offshore.

"As we would with any crime, if you see a trend you develop intel. In this case, someone coming ashore, obviously, you’re going to ramp up your efforts there," said Scott.

Lieutenant Scott Lucia, of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, explained Cubans hoping to come ashore may now have a tougher time hitting Sanibel and the rest of the outer islands.

"We've changed the some of our patrols. Although we've got a lot of inland waterways as well, we've spent a little bit more time with the offshore waters. We work closely with the Coast Guard," Lucia sais.

But Scott says the challenge to keep illegal immigrants out is a difficult one - and his office cannot do the job alone.

"That's a big Gulf of Mexico out there and you have to look beyond the local sheriff's office, look at the nature of the problem, look beyond the sheriff's office to the federal government," said Scott.

One of the sheriff's top tools to intercept illegal immigrants is a 32-foot 'special action vessel.'

Captain Derek Creamer, of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, says it can transport up to 35 people offshore to the safety of a larger boat.

"It's good for boarding other vessels with the low sides; you can see how wide the boat is. It's very stable with the wide platform," said Creamer.

But Scott says this problem is much larger than Lee County.

"It's a disgrace that our country has not sealed the border, it's a disgrace. Not just me as a sheriff - but me as a citizen," said Scott.

The sheriff also says he has no increases for the Marine Unit in his proposed budget for next year. He says he has a far greater responsibility to residents who need services other than upping the border patrol.

Originally published — 11:53 a.m., June 19, 2007
Updated — 10:15 p.m., June 19, 2007

In a brief stop to Southwest Florida, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said he is optimistic that Congress will agree on immigration reform as early as the July 4 recess.

A day after 22 Cuban immigrants landed undetected in Sanibel, the presidential candidate, in town to meet with members of his fundraising team, said the country needs the legislation to help secure borders.

"If we do nothing than that is de facto amnesty," McCain said. "We do not have secure borders. We need to assure everyone that we will take the steps necessary to secure our borders, have a temporary worker program that works and address the issue promptly."

McCain said he understands Florida's difficult situation with the wet foot/dry foot policies, which allows Cuban immigrants amnesty if they reach Florida's shores but turns back those found on the water.

"That policy is not a good one but nobody knows a better one yet," McCain said.

The Senator said he relies on three Cuban/American congressmen from Florida, Sen. Mel Martinez and the Diaz-Balart brothers, to give him direction.

A lot more has to be done to secure America's borders, McCain said.

"We have to have surveillance and the ability to know who is coming in and out of our ports" he said. "Port security remains a very big national security issue."

McCain's stop at the Southwest Florida International Airport was his first during a two-day trip to the state.

The senator raised more money from Florida supporters during the past quarter than any other candidate, said McCain's spokesman Tucker Bounds. This quarter ends July 1.

"We have a great deal of support in Florida," he said.

From Fort Myers, McCain will visit Miami, overnight in Jacksonville and then visit West Palm and Orlando Wednesday.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/jun ... swfl_stop/