Congress sets out to again shortchange California and other border states on jail funding

July 5, 2006

States that jail high numbers of criminal illegal immigrations should expect to be shortchanged by Washington when it comes to reumbursement. Legislation headed for the Senate includes $415 million nationwide for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which states depend on to repay some of the incarceration costs.

California alone spends more than $600 million annually to jail criminal illegal immigrants, which the state 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 Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca planned to review 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.

Results were that during the first four months of 2006, custody specialists placed detainers on 381 illegal immigrants who had been arrested, preventing them from being released on bail. The program was 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 funding.

Congressman Dreier said 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.