Report details impact of illegal immigration, crime
October 2nd, 2008 @ 6:40am
by Jim Cross/KTAR

The county attorney has released a new report outlining just how out of control the states illegal immigration problem is and the crime associated with those who are here illegally.

County Attorney Andrew Thomas says nine percent of the states population is here illegally. The number believed to be around 619,000 people according to the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy.

Almost 22 percent of the felons sentenced in Maricopa County Superior Court are illegal immigrants.

Thomas says almost 17 of the violent crime is linked to illegal immigrants at a cost to citizens of $59 million last year alone. More than 10 percent of the murders, 44 percent of forgery and fraud cases, 36 percent of kidnappings can be traced to illegal immigrants.

Eighteen percent of property crimes were committed by people in the county illegally and that accounts for another $24 million in costs to citizens.

Additionally, the Federation for American Immigration Reform says incarcerating illegal immigrants cost $80 million in 2004. That has grown to approximately $114 million.
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