http://www.dnronline.com/opinion_detail ... =Editorial

Immigration Costs Posted 2006-08-26




A few pundits have already said the Senate immigration bill is not going to pass, but rather is at the cemetery waiting to be buried.

If so, a few shovels of dirt have been applied to the bill by a new report from the Congressional Budget Office. The CBO says the Senate bill would cost the nation $126 billion during the next decade.

So it will cost the taxpayers $126 billion to keep people inside the nation who came here illegally? Does this make sense?

The costs include expenses for law enforcement, border security and federal benefits for new immigrants. Knowing how most federal studies work, it would not be surprising if the $126 billion was a low figure.

The CBO study, in addition to breaking down all the fiscal details, also lists the impact on population. By 2016, the researchers estimate, more than 16 million people would either become legal permanent residents under the bill or enjoy some type of legal status.

Critics had complained that the Senate legislation basically bestowed amnesty on illegal aliens and did not do enough to beef up border security.

The House bill, in contrast, emphasizes border security and provides funding for walls and additional law enforcement personnel. It has won the support of House Republicans – including Rep. Bob Goodlatte – and many Democrats. A CBO estimate of the House bill projected costs of only $1.9 billion over five years.

The Senate bill deserves a ride to the cemetery and a decent burial. You don’t have to be Pat Buchanan to realize the Senate bill is not the way to handle immigration, legal or illegal. The House bill is much better.

First, this nation has to get illegal immigration under control. After that, it can deal with the illegal immigrants already within our borders.