More money needed to house convicted illegal aliens...

More money needed to house convicted illegal aliens


By Ryan Orr
The Daily Press (Victorville, CA), April 3, 2008



San Bernardino, CA -- The county is seeking more money to cover the cost of housing illegal aliens in its jails.

In San Bernardino County, more than 4,000 illegal aliens were jailed last year, which cost the county roughly $24 million, said San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt.

The federal government coughed up just $591,155 in reimbursement funds last year, or 2 percent of what the county spent.

'San Bernardino County taxpayers shouldn't have to shoulder that burden,' Mitzelfelt said.

The San Bernardino County supervisors this week approved a policy position that seeks full reimbursement from the federal government for housing the illegal aliens.

'It's an insult to our taxpayers to reimburse us for only 2 percent of our cost for housing illegal aliens in our jails,' said Mitzelfelt. 'It's bad enough that the federal government is not doing its job of securing our borders or enforcing immigration laws. But to then force local governments to cover the cost associated with jailing illegal aliens is an affront to county residents. Immigration is a federal issue, but it's being paid for locally.'

The federal government reimburses counties for jailing illegal aliens with funding provided through the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, but reimbursements have not come close to covering the costs incurred, said David Zook, spokesman for Mitzelfelt.

The total SCAAP appropriation for the fiscal year of 2008 was $410 million, more than $30 million less than in previous years.

Working mainly with Congressman David Dreier, R-San Dimas, Congressman Jerry Lewis increased funding for SCAAP from $290 million in 2005 to more than $400 million the past three years, said Jim Specht, spokesman for Lewis.

He also co-sponsored legislation that authorized criminal alien reimbursement at $800 million or more. He has repeatedly challenged the administration to fund this program, Specht added.

'It is wrong for the federal government to force local officials to pay for jailing criminal aliens,' said Lewis. 'I will continue to work on the appropriations committee to provide as much funding as possible.'

The president's budget recommendation to Congress this year recommends the total elimination of SCAAP.



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