Thread: Public funds (illegal) immigrant group

Public funds immigrant group

More than 80 percent of Montgomery County funding for immigrant advocacy group CASA of Maryland is awarded through grants, noncompetitive contracts or direct handouts at the request of the organization, according to county financial documents obtained by The Examiner.

CASA receives roughly $2.35 million in taxpayer money under the current county budget, a sore spot for anti-illegal-immigration group leaders who object to any taxpayer funds being used to benefit people who may be illegal immigrants. Elected officials from County Executive Ike Leggett to U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin have supported the organization, saying CASA provides much-needed services to the community.

The group uses the money to fund projects including its controversial centers for day laborers, health care services, adult English classes, tenant rights counseling and job training for immigrants. County leaders say CASA’s efforts have largely been a success, and point to reports that detail increasing numbers of employers seeking workers through the centers, a growing presence of female day laborers and the group’s efforts to provide translation services for people in need of health care.

“Since [the Derwood day labor center] opened in April, the numbers of both employers and day laborers have been increasing,â€

"According to Lacefield, CASA has become a force in some situations, because there aren’t other groups that can offer the specific services it does, but that as the county’s Latino population grows, more service groups will emerge."

They say there is no cost to the leagal citizens on United States.