Thread: TN: Beebe Wants Data on State Costs of Immigrant Services

Beebe Wants Data on State Costs of Immigrant Services

Last Edited: Tuesday, 14 Aug 2007, 11:50 AM CDT
Created: Tuesday, 14 Aug 2007, 11:50 AM CDT

(AP Graphic) By ANDREW DeMILLO
Associated Press Writer
LITTLE ROCK (WHBQ FOX13 myfoxmemphis.com) – --

Gov. Mike Beebe said Tuesday he'd like to know how much of the state's estimated $170 million a year in services for immigrants is going toward to people who are in the country illegally.

Beebe also said he was open to considering whether schools should require incoming students to furnish a Social Security number.

Beebe said a report released to a legislative panel Monday that said Arkansas pays about $170 million a year to educate, imprison and provide services to immigrants was helpful, but said he wants more details on who is receiving the services. State agencies said it is sometimes impossible to tell whether legal or illegal immigrants are benefiting from state services.

"One of the things I'd sure like to know is the difference between legal and illegal on the breakdown in terms of that money, and I suppose it's difficult to get that information," Beebe told reporters. "Those that are here illegally are in a different category."

Beebe said he also wants a breakdown on how much the state is paying to educate illegal immigrants versus legal immigrants.

Beebe said the state must work with the federal government on immigration policy, but said the report would help guide lawmakers on what changes are needed.

"I think it's healthy for us to be discussing this and I think it's healthy for the committee to be providing the information and I think it will provide a roadmap for what, if any, legislative changes need to be brought forth," Beebe said.

Beebe said the state could look at a suggestion made by Rep. Rick Green, R-Van Buren, that students be required to furnish a Social Security number when enrolling. A state Department of Education official said a day earlier that such a requirement could have a "chilling" effect on those wanting to enroll.

"I think that's an option to look at. Apparently, currently most of that information should or would be available," Beebe said.

The cost of immigrants in the state are only a fraction of the economic impact of immigrants that the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation estimated in a separate study. A foundation's study earlier this year concluded that state manufacturers and other companies would lose about $1.4 billion in production a year and pay $95 million more for higher wages if illegal immigrants left Arkansas' work force.

Census estimates show Arkansas has more than 141,000 Hispanic residents, many living in the northwest corner of the state. Recent studies concluded about half of the state's immigrant population lives in the United States illegally.

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/myfox/pages ... geId=3.2.1

The cost of immigrants in the state are only a fraction of the economic impact of immigrants that the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation estimated in a separate study. A foundation's study earlier this year concluded that state manufacturers and other companies would lose about $1.4 billion in production a year and pay $95 million more for higher wages if illegal immigrants left Arkansas' work force.

And here I thought slavery was dead in the south???

I guess the "White Mazza" has just found another, more palitable way, to make money on an extremely cost effective (to him) labor force, this time without having to bother with directly providing bed and board!!

I am so 'over' hearing the stories of how much more it's going to cost someone to hire LEGALS!!!

Did they think they could run a business plan like this for ever???
Didn't anyone ever consider that their illegal hiring practices were going to come back and bite them in the A$$??

I just can't get up a lot of sympathy for that kind of stupidity!!