Congress cuts funds to jail illegal alien criminals

High Desert Daily Press
December 11, 2009
By DON HOLLAND Editor

Congressional Democrats on Thursday boosted federal spending by 14 percent, but cut funds for local police agencies to jail illegal aliens charged with crimes.

Last year the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department received $2.2 million in federal funds under the program, although the county spent $15.8 million to jail 3,700 illegal alien suspects, said sheriff’s spokesperson Cindy Beavers.

“The $2.2 million offset some of the costs,â€