Thread: Officals: Cost of Illegal Immigration 'Immense'

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/08 ... _14_06.txt

Officials: Cost of illegal immigration 'immense'

By: EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer

SAN DIEGO ---- County officials testified during a congressional hearing Monday in San Diego that illegal immigrants extract a heavy toll on local governments and law enforcement agencies, especially in North County. But they said they did not know precisely how much.

Officials said illegal immigrants have strained local education, health care and prison resources. Many of the panelists blamed the federal government for failing to secure the nation's borders.

"San Diego County may be the gateway to Mexico, but my taxpayers in the County of San Diego are the doormat," said Supervisor Bill Horn, whose district includes most of North County.


The panel is part of a series of Republican-organized hearings held around the country on immigration reform. It was the fourth held in San Diego County since July 5, as Congress considers opposing immigration reform bills passed by the House and Senate.

Only U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform, which sponsored the hearing and U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles, participated in the hearing. Previous panels in San Diego have attracted a dozen or more representatives, including most of the county's Republican delegation.

Immigration advocates held a separate press conference in downtown San Diego in response to the hearings, saying the benefits of immigration outweigh the costs.

During the packed congressional hearing in county supervisors' chambers, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Kolender said illegal immigrants account for many of the calls law enforcement agencies receive in North County.

He said:

n Nearly 80 percent of gang-related crimes in North County involve illegal immigrants, either as suspects or victims.

n Day laborers and their migrant encampments are a burden on law enforcement. Residents call deputies about day laborers' aggressive work solicitation, drinking in public and using parking lots as restrooms.

n A recent operation in North County resulted in the towing of more than 100 vehicles due to traffic violations. The majority of the drivers were believed by deputies to be illegal immigrants.

n Protests supporting and opposing illegal immigration cost the Sheriff's Department $489,000 in 2005.

"The cost of staff hours, equipment and administrative work associated with the detention and/or arrest of undocumented, foreign-born citizens is difficult to approximate, but the figures are in the millions," Kolender said.

Horn told the congressional panel that the county Board of Supervisors commissioned a study to estimate the cost of illegal immigration on the county's coffers. His office later clarified that the board has not commissioned such a study but has authorized county staffers to investigate the cost of such an investigation.

"While current law and circumstance make it very difficult to accurately quantify the impact of the problem, it is immense," Horn said at the hearing.

Outside the administration building, several dozen immigrant rights advocates and anti-illegal immigration activists engaged in shouting matches. Immigrant rights activist Enrique Morones and members of his group, the Border Angels, laid small wooden crosses on the grass as symbols of the thousands of illegal immigrants who have died attempting to cross the border illegally.

Anti-illegal immigration activists carried large flags and picket signs that read, "Hire Americans," and "Say no to Chicano racism."

The atmosphere outside was contentious at times, but the number of protesters was much smaller than the crowd of hundreds that attended the first hearing July 5 at the Imperial Beach Border Patrol station.

The number of congressional representatives who sat on the panel also was smaller.

As in previous meetings, Latino rights advocates criticized the panel as a political show aimed at fanning anti-immigrant fervor. Christian Ramirez, a prominent advocate with the human rights group, American Friends Service Committee, said he attended the hearing to watch "the show," but did not participate in the rallies outside.

Members of anti-illegal immigration groups, such as the Vista Citizens Brigade and the San Diego Minutemen, who attended the event said the hearings bring needed attention to the cost of illegal immigration on tax payers. However, one said it's time to stop talking and do something.

"I think it's getting repetitive," said Minuteman Neil Turned of Carlsbad. "I have enough (information) going to four of them. I'm sure something new comes out each time, but its time to get something done."

Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.

County officials testified during a congressional hearing Monday in San Diego that illegal immigrants extract a heavy toll on local governments and law enforcement agencies, especially in North County. But they said they did not know precisely how much.

How many times must this be repeated? If we had precise dollar amounts, would there be more response and get through to our elected officials?