California seeks more federal aid for cost of keeping illegal immigrant inmates

Los Angeles Times ^ | April 11, 2009 | Richard Simon

[zaphod3000]

Fifteen years after Congress promised that Washington would help states pick up the tab for imprisoning illegal immigrants convicted of crimes, California is receiving but a fraction -- less than 12 cents on the dollar -- of its nearly $1-billion annual cost.

The unfulfilled promise is perhaps the most glaring example of the federal government shortchanging California.

Officials from states greatly affected by illegal immigration long have argued that their taxpayers should not have to bear the burden for Washington's failure to control the border.

[zaphod3000]

A prime example of the cost of illegal immigration. Fat chance that California or any other state will get any more money. Unfullfilled promise? More like the feds are their shirking responsibility to protect us in the first place. But I guess the feds figure it is cheaper to have the states lock them up rather than stop them at the border.

[ken21]

illegals, unions, and trial lawyers account for most of california’s demise.

[rabscuttle385]

.

[I_Like_Spam]

California has “sanctuary cities” as well as medicaid for illegals, subsidized college education, admission to K-12 schools and other benefits for illegals.

Why should other states help subsidize them on this, they have chosen to become a real illegal alien magnet.

[Birch T. Barlow]

Simple solution, turn them over to the feds. The feds have a program designed to handle illegals and deport them.

[Frantzie]

Rewarding and subsidizing corruption, failure, crminal behavior (illegals) and dishonesty.

[babygene]

“Why should other states help subsidize them on this, they have chosen to become a real illegal alien magnet.”

I agree with that. I’d go further and expel California from the Union.

[Ancient Drive]

just dump them on their corresponding countries. getting them a plane ticket is a lot cheaper.

[rbosque]

This state (Ca.) is 40 Billion in the hole. 10 Billion is the costs of illegals; not counting the crimes such as fraud, theft, murder, rape, and robberies. But this state continues to ignore these facts and continues to live in a fantasy PC world. Meanwhile everyone else pays for it.

[terycarl]

not necessarily in that order!!

[Two Kids' Dad]

Either the states need to house the illegals in separate prisons and keep the state’s incarceration funds separate from the money they receive from the feds - and the services and meals will reflect the severity of the problem - or they need to grant some land to the feds and tell them to build and run their own prisons and absolve the states from any responsibilities.

I’m a big fan of going back to the old ways of bologna sandwiches and watered down punch for every meal, no television, minimal yard activities, and requiring a form of work from each inmate.