Thread: The high cost of jailing illegals

The high cost of jailing illegals

Posted: 02/17/2011 07:26:09 PM PSTUpdated: 02/17/2011 07:29:50 PM PST

It costs the state of California nearly $1 billion to incarcerate illegal immigrants, only a small fraction of which the federal government reimburses. It's never been a great deal for the state, and under President Obama's budget proposal released Monday it will get even worse.

The federal government last year sent $330 million to California and other states to help offset the cost of illegal immigrants in prison. California generally commands as much as one-third of the money. This year, if Obama gets his way, the federal government plans to reimburse just $126million - for the entire country. That leaves the residents of already financially strapped states like California and Texas to shoulder a burden caused by the federal government's failure to fix the broken immigration system.

The cuts shouldn't be a surprise. Every government agency is trying to slash spending and has shifted as much cost at it can to other governmental agencies. We can't afford even the basic services anymore. And we certainly can't keep paying for the mistakes of the federal government.

California lawmakers should use this cut as a rallying call to revive the long-stalled debate over a comprehensive immigration policy. Republican lawmakers have come up with a slew of proposed legislation aimed at denying benefits and services to illegal immigrants. All Democrats have done is criticize these efforts without offering any suggested reforms themselves. That needs to change.

The country must curb the inflow of illegal immigrants, and the criminals that come with it, as well as offer a reasonable solution to the needs of agriculture and other industries for migrant workers that stops short of citizenship.

The cost of the broken immigration system has always been high. But now, when the public coffers are going empty, it's too high to allow. California can no longer afford to pay the price for the federal government's failure.

http://www.presstelegram.com/opinions/ci_17417475

Now let's see who many people CAN post positive comments

as comparied to how many MUST post negative comments.

That's funny cause this chief of Police says different!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... tWD4#at=40

This guy is cool!

CA. has 90% of it's counties enrolled in the I.C.E. Secure Community Program
to help deport the illegal aliens it pays a $1 BILLON to incarcerate each year.
CA. has it's National Guard Troops assisting the federal government on the border.

Sounds like CA. is doing it's part to solve the problem
that is created by the failure of the federal government to secure the border.