Busted immigration policies cost L.A. dearly...

Busted immigration policies cost L.A. dearly...


Busted immigration policies cost L.A. dearly Article Last Updated: 01/09/2008 07:35:33 PM PST

As Los Angeles struggles with revenue shortfalls and cuts from Sacramento, keep the following figure in mind: $444 million.

That, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, is how much illegal immigration costs L.A. County in welfare and food stamps per year. Nearly half a billion dollars.

Immigration may be Washington's problem, but L.A. is bearing the cost.

The federal government's refusal to implement reform that allows for sensible immigration for hard-working and self-sufficient people perpetuates the current broken system - under which anyone can come in, without accountability or regulation.

What's more, when people work "invisibly" in the black market, there is no way to trace their income. Families that shouldn't qualify for benefits, do. And undocumented workers largely don't pay income taxes.

Unfortunately, immigration is a federal issue. It is Washington that fails to rationalize the process under which foreign nationals enter the country. And it is Washington that has proved woefully inept at securing the borders.

But Washington - even with a Californian as speaker of the House - consistently fails to fund California for federal immigration failures. The state gets far less in federal funds than what it pays in taxes - despite bearing the brunt of the politicians' inability to deal seriously with immigration.

Managing the borders ought to be one of the federal government's most basic responsibilities. And as long as Washington continues to shirk that responsibility, the least it can do is compensate Southern California appropriately.

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