Thread: San Diego Co.: Official defends study on migrants

Official defends study on migrants

By Craig Gustafson
STAFF WRITER

September 8, 2007

A new study has found that undocumented immigrants cost San Diego County government about $101 million annually, but researchers acknowledged they relied heavily on estimates and didn't factor in how much immigrants pay in taxes or boost local businesses.

Despite those flaws, county Supervisor Bill Horn, a staunch supporter of increased border security who requested the $40,000 study, said it confirmed his suspicions that illegal immigrants are a drain on county services.

The study estimated the impact of undocumented immigrants on the county's fiscal 2007 budget, which ended June 30. Costs included about $75 million for the criminal justice system and $26 million for health and human services and environmental impacts.

Each of the estimated 192,654 immigrants without proper documentation cost the county an average of $527 last year. Taxpayers paid an average of $35 to cover those costs, according to the study, which estimates the county's loss has tripled since 1990.

The study focused solely on county government and did not look at education or health care costs. The Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties has estimated that illegal immigrants accounted for $155 million in emergency-room visits in 2006.

The study was prepared by John Weeks, a geography professor and director of San Diego State University's International Population Center, and David Eisenberg, a border studies scholar and former Chula Vista police officer.

They acknowledged the limitations of their analysis, saying cost calculations are difficult because most county agencies do not – and legally cannot – keep records on the legal status of people served.

“Thus, it is probably impossible to ever know the exact impact of undocumented immigrants,â€

No American taxpayer should have to pay one red penny to support illegals. Those that employ illegals should be required to foot the bill for jails, hospitals, schools, etc. Employers and supporters are the ones who say that they need them so they should pay for them, not rest of us.