Thread: Texas officials tally costs of illegal immigration

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Texas officials tally costs of illegal immigration
By Zahira Torres \ Austin Bureau
Posted: 08/19/2010 12:00:00 AM MDT

AUSTIN -- Undocumented immigrants cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars each year, executives of state agencies said Wednesday.

They delivered that message to state legislators during a meeting of the House Committee on State Affairs.

It is a message that is likely to be a sticking point as the state looks for ways to make up a budget deficit of up to $18 billion.

And it is one that could become a point of contention as some Republican legislators push a state immigration law that mimics one in Arizona.

The state spends an estimated $96 million on medical services for undocumented immigrants, according to figures from the Health and Human Services Commission.

Other state workers said about 9,800 inmates with federal immigration "holds" were in state prisons. Their care cost an estimated $153 million after a $17.9 million federal reimbursement.

Several lawmakers said Texas was being saddled with costs that should be the responsibility of the federal government.

"It's kind of up to the feds if they want to create programs to reimburse state costs in connection with undocumented workers," said committee Chairman Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton.

State Rep. Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville, said he was happy that talks centered on facts and figures, but he said no one provided any information about how much undocumented immigrants contribute to the state's economy. That, he said, will have to be considered before lawmakers start making decisions that affect millions of people.

About 1.4 million undocumented immigrants bolstered Texas' economy by an estimated $17.7 billion in 2005, according to a 2006 report from the state comptroller.

Back then, Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn estimated that state revenues from undocumented immigrants exceeded what the state spent on services for them by nearly $425 million.

But, she said, it was the reverse for local governments and hospitals, which had an estimated loss of nearly $929 million in 2005.

Members of the comptroller's staff said they had not received a request for an updated report on the effects of undocumented immigrants.

The next legislative session will deal with issues that include a budget deficit, redistricting and federal health-care reform. Immigration probably will be added to that list.

"If you throw in Arizona law approaches to these problems, it will be a very ugly, painful session," Oliveira said.

An Arizona-type law in Texas could bring additional costs and mean a loss of manpower if state and local law officers are pulled away their duties to act as de facto border patrol agents, Democratic legislators said.

Arizona also recently mandated the implementation of the "E-verify system," which is supposed to determine whether a person can legally work in the U.S.

But Michael Golden, a labor lawyer, told lawmakers that the program could be costly for Texas and said questions remain about its effectiveness. He said the system sometimes counts undocumented immigrants as if they were in the country legally and at other times gives the opposite information.

Steve McCraw, the director of the Department of Public Safety, told lawmakers that a law like Arizona's would create additional costs. But, he said, he did not have any estimates readily available. "The challenge is how many times will a trooper, during the course of his or her day, run into and be required to detain," McCraw said.

An exchange between Oliveira and Denton County Judge Mary Horn, a Republican, demonstrated some of the back-and-forth that lawmakers will face on the issue next session.

Horn said undocumented immigrants have driven up healthcare and prison costs in her county.

When Oliveira asked Horn to consider the additional costs that an Arizona-type law may place on counties, she agreed and responded: "It would fill up our jail, and really the only solution is to close the border."

Oliveira retorted, "Well that's your suggestion. That could also destroy the Texas economy in other ways."

About 1.4 million undocumented immigrants bolstered Texas' economy by an estimated $17.7 billion in 2005, according to a 2006 report from the state comptroller.

Back then, Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn estimated that state revenues from undocumented immigrants exceeded what the state spent on services for them by nearly $425 million.

But, she said, it was the reverse for local governments and hospitals, which had an estimated loss of nearly $929 million in 2005.

So overall, illegal invaders constituted a net loss of $504 million dollars in the state of Texas and this was in 2005-2006.

It has to be over a Billion dollars by now! So much for the cheap lettuce argument!

What will very possibly transpire will be the result of the domino effect. Arizona was the first domino. Waves of illegal aliens will leave to a more "friendly" state. That state, in order to avoid the subsequent financial and social burden of illegal immigration will pass it's own law. And on it will go. NO STATE WANTS THE BURDEN OF WAVES OF IA's REGARDLESS OF THEIR POLITICAL LEANINGS. Things will get very interesting over the next 12 months.

Agreed NOBueno
They always use numbers from past years,so you know the numbers are at least doubled or even tripled today.

How can a State gain money WHEN the rest of the towns,cities, and hospitals are on the LOSS? Sounds like some manipulating of NUMBERS! The SAME CRAP that sent stocks into a tumble and banks into troubles and housing industry into the tubes which lead to loss of jobs and wages and even home foreclosures.

Originally Posted by TexasBorn

What will very possibly transpire will be the result of the domino effect. Arizona was the first domino. Waves of illegal aliens will leave to a more "friendly" state. That state, in order to avoid the subsequent financial and social burden of illegal immigration will pass it's own law. And on it will go. NO STATE WANTS THE BURDEN OF WAVES OF IA's REGARDLESS OF THEIR POLITICAL LEANINGS. Things will get very interesting over the next 12 months.

You’re exactly right TexasBorn! My home state of California spends close to 12 billion dollars a year on illegal invaders. The state is falling apart but our reconquista mayor and clueless and pandering governor refuse to even acknowledge this might be a problem! I guess all is well in tinsel town so long as long as the governor can still make movies, the mayor has his courtside tickets, and every illegal invader has section 8 housing, welfare, WIC and food stamps, Go figure.....

This site might have more realistic numbers.

http://immigrationcounters.com/

I know this is just another sob story by the Pro-ILLEGALS and their desire to continue to profit from THEIR ILLEGALS; "Why does Texas attempt to educate the ILLEGALS and their anchors! Billions of dollars would be saved in Texas if the state was NOT forced to educate the ILLEGALS.

"Teachers" in the Texas ILLEGALS (bilingual) pre-kindergarten - 5th grade program receive several thousand dollars per year more than the real TEACHERS who work with the "NON-ILLEGALS"!!!!

The State of Texas claims they pay bilingual teachers extra because they are hard to find and have additional credentials. Most have less educational credentials than real teachers, many do not have educational degrees or for that fact most do not have advanced degrees that are required for real teachers. The only additional credentials are the ability to converse in Spanish. United States elementary students should not be required to learn in Spanish, the reason for the "bilingual program (ILLEGAL program)" is that we are forced to "educate" the ILLEGALS and their Anchors!

Texas has a bilingual program for just Spanish speakers only costing Billions of dollars once it began to pick up steam. The ILLEGALS and their anchors in the Texas School System are so illiterate that our schools have to spend time and resources to teach the ILLEGALS and anchors "proper" Spanish before they can even consider teaching the ILLEGALS and anchors English! The ILLEGALS and anchors have their own program starting in pre-kindergarten through the 5th grade, seven years, and most do not or do not want to learn English. But the Feds and Texas continue to flood the school system with our money. Don't be concerned, the ILLEGALS do not have any intention of learning English! They want to take over the U.S. for their Third World home countries or at the very least turn the U.S. into just another Third World Country so they may feel more at home!

IN-State tuition for ILLEGALS now replace innocent American students in the limited seats in college at a time when over 10% of Americans are out of work and their families are struggling to train for new jobs and pay for college. The Texas in-state tuition legislation violates a 1996 Federal law. Why would you support in-state tuition for the ILLEGALS that will attract more ILLEGALS to Texas and America and train ILLEGALS for jobs it is illegal for them to have. These students should go back to their HOME countries and stop draining our resources that could be used to assist United States Citizens and not the ILLEGALS! Just follow the money! The Elitist Politicians and their Elitist Political Contributors want to continue to have United States Citizens pay the benefits for their ILLEGALS while they continue to have their BOTTOM LINES increased at the taxpayer's expense!"

I agree 100% Iccat.
When I worked at a local elementary school here in El Paso, it was my impression that the reason the schools cater to the bilingual program is because that program generates a lot more funds for the schools. The school where I worked could not afford to get computers for the primary grades but via the bilingual program they were able to get them. Prior to that, the way they were able to get a few computers was through the Furrs grocery chain that offered computers for schools which involved the school collecting as many receipts from Furrs that they could. I was the one who totaled up the receipts each month to submit. The other way some of the school were able to generate funds was collecting aluminum cans which were also submitted under some other kind of program like Furrs. Some of the schools are still using that aluminum can program.
The real problem as I see it is with the entire education system in this country when it comes to elementary, middle and high schools. The way I understood it was that each school receives funding based on the location of the school and the tax base of that area. That to me is extremely unfair. I think every school in this country should have the same things.
It makes no sense to me why children attending school in a wealthier residential area should have more than children in poorer areas in as far as what the school has to offer.

State Rep. Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville, said he was happy that talks centered on facts and figures, but he said no one provided any information about how much undocumented immigrants contribute to the state's economy. That, he said, will have to be considered before lawmakers start making decisions that affect millions of people.
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your kidding right, Rep???
i think you know deep down that what it costs the taxpayers of texas is far more than what illegals pay in. when you consider the cost of education, medical care, welfare, food stamps, WIC and other state and federal monies, ITS NOT EVEN CLOSE.

Just say it, because your hispanic, you dont think it costs more.
we know how you and other hispanic legislatures feel about this.
you dont want to face the TRUTH

Again, Why do some Hispanics who are United States Citizens desire to partner themselves with criminal ILLEGALS? I would think any U.S. Citizens would want to distance themselves from the ILLEGALS! Could it be just the so called “Hispanics Leadership (?)â€