Representative wants action on illegals

9/7/2010
The Brunswick News

A study by the Federation for American Immigration Reform shows how serious the illegal immigration problem is in Georgia, U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-1, says.

Illegal immigration in the Peach State alone is costing taxpayers $2.4 billion annually.

Kingston said the report, "The Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on U.S. Taxpayers," is a comprehensive analysis of the economic burden of the problem.

There are an estimated 495,000 illegal aliens in Georgia.

Kingston, a vocal proponent of immigration reform, said the economic burden created by such a large population will only get worse as the state struggles to balance spending with declining revenue.

"We can't afford to ignore this problem anymore," Kingston said. "While Washington politicians argue the answer is in government spending, consider that $2.4 billion is enough to hire 70,000 new teachers in Georgia.

"Meanwhile, the Obama administration ignores the problem and directs its resources and attention to attacking states like Arizona that have stepped in where the federal government has stepped aside."

Kingston, a member of the Immigration Reform Caucus, said any immigration reform package should include increased border security, a temporary work visa system, tamper-proof biometric identification cards and increased sanctions for employers of illegal workers.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform reports that Georgians pay $1.7 billion each year on education for the children of illegal immigrants. Other costs are health care, $318 million; criminal justice system, $195 million; welfare, $77 million; state and local operating costs, $138 million.

The total boils down to $743 for each household in Georgia.

"We need to secure our border, enforce the law and start tackling this problem before it grows any further," Kingston said.



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