Deportation of illegal aliens - a cost-cutting measure
Chad Groening
OneNewsNow
January 6, 2009
An immigration reform activist supports an idea being explored by the state of Washington to deport illegal aliens who are serving time in state jails.
Governor Chris Gregoire says the move would save the Evergreen State more than $9 million over the next two years. The deportation proposal is modeled after a program in Arizona, which has saved that state more than $18.5 million since 2005. It calls for the state to come to an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which would carry out the deportations. Illegal aliens serving time in state jails for drug or property crime convictions are eligible for deportation.
Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, says Washington is feeling the economic pinch. "Washington -- like just about every other state -- is facing deep budget deficits, and they have to find ways to trim the costs," he contends. "And one of the things that they need to do is deal with the problems of illegal immigration, especially people who are here illegally and then committing other crimes."
Mehlman says up until now Washington has really done nothing to deal with the problem of illegal immigration in the state.
"Washington is one of the very few states that gives drivers licenses to illegal aliens," he points out. "Most state benefits and services are dispensed without any regard to somebody's immigration status, so it's not surprising that illegal immigrants are flocking to Washington."
Besides Arizona, the program has also been successful in New York, which between 1995 and 2007 saved an estimated $141 million by releasing more than 1,950 illegal alien inmates to federal authorities.
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