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Illegal Immigrants Costing $$$ Right Here in Northeast Indiana
May 9, 2005, 06:19 PM Email to a Friend Printer Friendly Version




If you're an Allen County resident, 70-percent of your property tax dollars go- not to schools or roads, but to running the judicial system. A growing portion of that is used to support people who shouldn't even be in this country.

Undocumented Immigrants cost U.S. taxpayers tens of billions of dollars, and the problem is not just along border states.

County officials are concerned about the growing number of undocumented immigrants in our jails. Now they're searching for a solution to a problem that's eating away at your tax dollars.

Jesus Ramirez is one of 18 different alias' and 05/09/75 is one of 8 different birthdays for this man, who's currently in an Allen County jail cell, charged with possession of paraphernalia.

"They go through the system and you don't know who they are," says Allen County Sheriff Jim Herman. "They have like 5 ID's and you don't know which one is right."

Jesus' real name is Jose Colazo-Garcia, he's an undocumented immigrant that has been deported from the U.S. 4 times.

"Deportation is not a solution, if all have to do walk across the border," Hermans said. "We have a group of people who are living outside the rules and people don't care much about it and it's cost tax payers money when they go to jail."

While they don't know exactly how many undocumented immigrants are in the system for each one who is, it cost an average of $45 a day.

"The criminal justice system is a big burden to tax payers," according to Herman.

"The country has to pay for an interpreter, courts, prosecutor, medical, food and their stay in jail," said Commissioner Marla Irving.

Statistics show more than 70% of tax payer dollars are spent in the judicial system, ideally Irving would like that number closer to 50% which would free up money for economic development, infrastructure improvement and even lower property taxes.

"The federal government has a responsibility to help with the cost."

"I want make a comment on who has responsibility for the cost of jails, its a legitamate question to raise throughout the state," said US Senator Richard Lugar. He agrees the country has an enormous immigration problem. The Indiana Republican is the chairman of the Foriegn Relations Committee and says the solution lies outside the United States.

"We need to try to work with other country's and make life better there."

Until thats accomplished, Sheriff Herman says we need to do something about those who still try to come here now.

"We need to tighten the borders. If I was a terroist I'd come in at the easiest place, and apparently thats Mexico."

To off set some of the cost of undocumented immigrants in our system the Commisioners office will apply for a government grant. Right now they're gathering statistics to see exactly how many there are in our jails and exacatly how much money they're costing Allen County tax payers.

The results should be available this summer.