Senate reinstates funds for Criminal Alien Assistance Program
BY REID J. EPSTEIN


7:04 PM EDT, March 15, 2008

The U.S. Senate reinstated $950 million in funding for a federal program that reimburses local governments for the cost of housing undocumented immigrants, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Saturday.

Nassau and Suffolk have spent millions annually jailing undocumented immigrants, though the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program obligates the federal government to pay to house anyone undocumented who has been convicted of one felony or two misdemeanors.

"This funding will go directly into the pockets of Long Island's counties and ease the already heavy burden on Long Island taxpayers," Schumer said. "Enforcing our immigration laws and securing our borders is a federal responsibility, and it's not fair for local authorities to foot the bill for incarcerating undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes."

The Senate approved the $950 million for the program late Thursday night, though the House has yet to allocate the funds. A conference committee representing both houses will negotiate to determine the final allocation.

Earlier this month, Nassau Comptroller Howard Weitzman released an audit that showed the county spent $8.5 million to house 660 undocumented immigrants with one felony or two misdemeanor convictions in 2006, the most recent year in which exact figures were available. The federal government reimbursed only $2.6 million, Weitzman said.

"I am pleased that the Senate was able to amend the budget to include the . . . funding but the federal government has still yet to accept its obligation to fully reimburse us for the expense," Weitzman said.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy said Suffolk spends $12 million annually to incarcerate undocumented immigrants, a figure that includes not just those with felony and misdemeanor convictions but anyone arrested.

Last year, Suffolk received $1.75 million in reimbursement from the federal government, Levy said.

"If the federal government is not going to deport illegal aliens," Levy said, "the least the federal government should do is pay for the imprisonment of those who are criminals."

The Bush administration last asked for funding for the program in 2002, a U.S. Department of Justice spokesman said, because officials felt the funds could be better used guarding the border. The president's proposed 2009 budget eliminated all funding for the program.

Schumer said eliminating the program would have cost New York State $54.7 million per year.
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