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BISBEE — Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is leading an effort to get full funding for a federal program that reimburses states and localities for arrest, incarceration and transportation costs associated with illegal immigrants who commit crimes.
A total of 41 members of Congress from 18 states have signed a letter to President Bush initiated by Giffords that urges him to adequately fund the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.
“Without SCAAP, state and local budgets will be further overwhelmed by costs that are more properly the federal government’s responsibility,” the letter says.
The program is currently authorized at $950 million in the president’s fiscal year 2009 budget proposal, but last year Bush failed to include funding for it in his budget.
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According to the letter, communities across the country continue to face “extraordinary costs” associated with the incarceration of undocumented criminals.
“Considering the immigration challenge in America, underfunding SCAAP places a significant cost burden on state and local governments, stretching their resources and hampering their ability to protect our communities and uphold the law,” it says.
In the letter, the lawmakers point out that most counties along the U.S.-Mexico border are reimbursed as little as 9 percent of the costs of incarcerating undocumented criminals.
“Due to major state and county budget shortfalls, every dollar reduction in SCAAP reimbursement means a dollar less that a state can spend on essential public safety services. This is unacceptable,” they state in the letter.
In a press release, Giffords states that if Bush fails to support the funding, she will fight for Congress to prioritize the program in its budget and appropriations legislation this year.
Herald/Review reporter Jonathon Shacat can be reached at 515-4693 or by e-mail at jonathon.shacat@bisbeereview.net.
Get Rid of the Illegals wrote on Feb 2, 2008 6:40 AM: