Posted on 07/04/2006 10:33:22 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON -- Congress is poised to shortchange California and other states that jail high numbers of criminal illegal immigrants, as Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca prepares to testify before a federal panel on the need for adequate funding.
Legislation headed for the U.S. Senate includes $415 million nationwide for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which states depend on to repay some of the incarceration costs. California spends more than $600 million annually on what it views as a federal responsibility.
"This is an issue of fairness, responsibility and public safety," said Rep. David Dreier, R-Glendora, who along with other members of the Southern California delegation have pushed for increased funding even as the Bush administration annually tries to slash it.
Local officials say Los Angeles County spends about $90 million more annually than it receives from Washington. That shortfall is among the points Baca plans to address Wednesday before a congressional panel on illegal immigration convening in San Diego.
In San Bernardino County, officials estimate the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants at more than $11 million annually.
Sheriff Gary Penrod announced a plan last year to begin checking the immigration status of people held in San Bernardino County jails so that they can be deported.
During the first four months of 2006, according to Supervisor Paul Biane, custody specialists placed detainers on 381 illegal immigrants who had been arrested, which prevented them from being released on bail.
The program is also intended to help San Bernardino County apply for more reimbursements available through SCAAP. With a better accounting of how many illegal immigrants it housed, the county can make a stronger case for more funding.
According to Dreier, California has received $1 billion in the past six years from the program. Los Angeles County has received $118 million while San Bernardino County has received $3 million.
The House passed the spending bill for SCAAP and $59.8 billion worth of other programs in the Commerce and Justice departments by a 393-23 vote. The entire Southern California congressional delegation voted in favor of it.
Also slated to receive as yet to be determined funding: Friends of Child Advocates of Los Angeles County; Regional Fingerprint Identification programs in San Bernardino and Riverside counties; the East Valley Justice Communications Center in Redlands; a crime analysis system for the city of Redlands; and an unspecified law enforcement initiative in Ventura County.
Take all the money spent on illegals like tuition and free health care and spend the money on incarceration would go a long way to alleviate CA and other states problems.
California is an illegal magnet. They need to change policies that attract illegals and keep them there, or pick up the tab themselves.
but don't worry this problem is going to fix itself, and there wil be more money for congress to spend on congress's illegals. Once the sun comes up and the sky turns blue, we'll all be drinking that clear bubble up and eating that rainbow stew.
Arnold doesn't want the guard on the border but he wants more money to deal with the illegals.
Sounds a lot like "Big Rock Candy Mountain".
could be, as far as the illegals see the freebies. I've heard some of the illegals even like our prison system, thought I have to say I'm not surprised.
You mean like Prop 187 the "draconian" anti-illegal immigration law struck down by liberal Federal judges. Your ignorance is astounding.
Should have said policy makers that pass the crap policies. It's happening everywhere. It needs to be handled at the local level. (and some are) Too many "sanctuary cities" cropping up.
Our wimp president could have Nationalized the California National Guard and ordered them to the border, but he let the movie star upstage him.
Merle Haggard fan I am sure.
He didn't upstage him. He showed his true colors.
I'm older than that. I first remember Burl Ives singing it.
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