Posted on 04/11/2005 5:25:04 PM PDT by fight_truth_decay
Analysis of the latest Census data indicates Texas’s illegal immigrant population is costing the state’s taxpayers more than $4.7 billion per year for education, medical care and incarceration. Even if the estimated tax contributions of illegal immigrant workers are subtracted, net outlays still amount to more than $3.7 billion per year. The annual fiscal burden amounts to about $725 per Texas household headed by a native-born resident.
This analysis looks specifically at the costs to the state for education, health care and incarceration resulting from illegal immigration. These three are the largest cost areas, and they are the same three areas analyzed in a 1994 study conducted by the Urban Institute, which provides a useful baseline for comparison ten years later. Other studies have been conducted in the interim, showing trends that support the conclusions of this report.
Other significant costs associated with illegal immigration exist, and these too should be taken into account by federal and state officials. Even without accounting for all of the numerous areas in which costs associated with illegal immigration are being incurred by Texas taxpayers, the program areas analyzed in this study indicate that the burden is substantial and that the costs are rapidly increasing.
The more than $4.7 billion in costs incurred by Texas taxpayers annually result from outlays in the following areas:
Education. Based on estimates of the illegal immigrant population in Texas and documented costs of K-12 schooling, Texans spend more than $4 billion annually on education for illegal immigrant children and for their U.S.-born siblings. About 11.9 percent of the K-12 public school students in Texas are children of illegal aliens.
Health Care. Taxpayer-funded medical outlays for health care provided to the state’s illegal alien population amount to about $520 million a year.
Incarceration. The uncompensated cost of incarcerating illegal aliens in Texas’s state and county prisons amounts to about $150 million a year (not including local jail detention costs or related law enforcement and judicial expenditures or the monetary costs of the crimes that led to their incarceration). State and local taxes paid by the unauthorized immigrant population go toward offsetting these costs, but they do not come near to matching the expenses. The total of such payments can generously be estimated at slightly less than $1 billion per year.
The fiscal costs of illegal immigration do not end with these three major cost areas. The total costs of illegal immigration to the state’s taxpayers would be considerably higher if other cost areas such as special English instruction, welfare programs used by the U.S.-born children of illegal aliens, or welfare benefits for American workers displaced by illegal alien workers were also calculated.
While the primary responsibility for combating illegal immigration rests with the federal government, there are many measures that state and local governments can take to combat the problem. Texans should not be expected to assume this already large and growing burden from illegal immigration simply because local businesses or other special interests benefit from being able to employ lower cost workers. The state could adopt measures to systematically collect information on illegal alien use of taxpayer-funded services and on where they are employed. Policies could then be pursued to hold employers financially accountable.
The state could also enter into a cooperative agreement with the federal government for training local law enforcement personnel in immigration law so illegal immigrants apprehended for breaking the law can be expeditiously turned over to the immigration authorities for removal from the country. Similarly, local officials who have adopted “sanctuary” measures that shield illegal aliens from being reported to the immigration authorities should be urged to repeal them.
Texas has also voluntarily adopted policies that add to the cost burdens of illegal immigration. While all states are compelled under a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision to provide a free K-12 education to all children, irrespective of their immigration status, they are under no obligation to subsidize education beyond that point. Nevertheless, the Texas legislature and Governor Perry have decided to grant in-state tuition benefits at public colleges and universities to illegal aliens.
It is unreasonable for a state to expect federal assistance to compensate for the fiscal burden of illegal immigration if it is pursuing policies that encourage illegal aliens to come and remain in the state.
The full report is available in html and pdf
April 2005
Well since you just signed on to FR today, I won't dignify your post with an answer.
But you are either the dumbest person on the planet or the most naive if you believe one word you posted!
The principle applies to all actions by the state, not just K-12 education.
"The Constitution grants Congress the power to "establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization." Art. I., 8, cl. 4. Drawing upon this power, upon its plenary authority with respect to foreign relations and international commerce, and upon the inherent power of a sovereign to close its borders, Congress has developed a complex scheme governing admission to our Nation and status within our borders. . . . . The States enjoy no power with respect to the classification of aliens. See Hines v. Davidowitz, 312 U.S. 52 (1941).
Maybe someday youll find a case that actually supports what you say. Maybe a future Supreme Court will suddenly find whatever it is you see in Art1 Sec8. Perhaps by consulting international law. Until then the "principle" is only your opinion.
Perhaps you missed this, so I'll post it again:
""The Constitution grants Congress the power to "establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization." Art. I., 8, cl. 4. Drawing upon this power, upon its plenary authority with respect to foreign relations and international commerce, and upon the inherent power of a sovereign to close its borders, Congress has developed a complex scheme governing admission to our Nation and status within our borders. . . . . The States enjoy no power with respect to the classification of aliens. See Hines v. Davidowitz, 312 U.S. 52 (1941). "
And here is the link:
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=search&court=US&case=/us/457/202.html
Another posting that in no way supports your position? Anybody know how many states allow illegals to pay in-state tuition?
If the FAIR lawsuit is successful in over turning the Kansas law that allows illegals in-state tuition based on the 1996 federal law. That federal court ruling will then apply to every other state. This would force states that give in-state tuition to illegals to give all students the low in-state rate. The cost of this would massive.
The states effected will have to repeal their in-state for illegals law in order to charge out of state students the higher rate.
states are prohibited by the US Constitution from making distinctions based on ones immigration status. Therefore, if someone is a resident of Texas, they are to be allowed to pay in state tuition.
being from texas i see first hand the trouble that illegal
aliens bring to a state. we americans have dug a huge hole
using illegal labor for personal financial gain.
it is time to take a stand & overwhelm our congressmen &
women on this issue & hope that something positive will be
gained. i do not consider myself racial as some left wingers
would label me but just a concerned citizen of the proud
state of Texas and of the US that worries about our future.]
illegals aliens sent back home an estimated 13 billion
dollars in 2003 which makes me sick. we must hole out gvt
and tany company accountable for hiring illegal aliens and
come up with a way to block most if not all of the money
that the illegal aliens send back home. have a great night
Hey, President Bush doesn't want to close the borders. Someone's got to pay the bills and it isn't going to be Vicente Fox, so what does he care?
It will take Texans rising up and making their voices heard in order for anything to change. And New Mexicans. And Arizonans. And Californians. And the other States that are funding all the "free" care that the undocumenteds obtain while in the USofA.
We need legislation that only allows LEGAL immigrant's babies to become USCitizens at birth IF the parents want it. THAT would be a first step in halting the flow of pregnant girls across the border.
The USofA is being overrun and it's time to stop the process or at least slow it down to a trickle.
excuse the spelling errors, i was a little excited over this
issue.
Ok, lets break this down: states are prohibited by the US Constitution from making distinctions based on ones immigration status.
You have that correct.
Therefore, if someone is a resident of Texas, they are to be allowed to pay in state tuition.
You have this part wrong. Texas may not discriminate (that means charge a higher fee for tuition) against someone based on their immigration status. If you live in Texas, you're a Texan, regardless of what country you came from. Therefore, you pay in state tuition rates.
I cited the appropriate passage from Plyer v Doe twice to support this proposition. Is there something you didn't understand about the passage I cited?
I appreciate that. But you and your state of Texas must still follow the law and the constitution as you seek to address this perceived 'trouble'.
Dont talk to me like Im the one who doesnt get it. Your interpretation of the law is just that. Thankfully the courts have yet to find (perhaps one day they will maybe through international law) a way to make the constitution say what you want it to say on this matter. In practice the only states where illegal aliens pay in state tuition are those that have passed legislation to allow it. Do you understand that?
Well, I think they have. Read Plyer v Doe. . . again.
If your reality was the reality of the rest of us. Illegals would be paying in-state tuition across the country. They arent.
Plyer Vs. Doe applies to k-12. No matter what youd like to believe.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.