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August 27, 2011
Perry Bills Feds $349M for Incarcerating Illegals and Not Doing Enough To Secure Border Costing Tax Payer Funded Resources
Perry Bills Feds $349M for Incarcerating Illegals and Not Doing Enough To Secure Border Costing Tax Payer Funded Resources
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has asked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for nearly $350 million to cover the costs he says Texas has incurred incarcerating illegal immigrants in state prisons and county jails.
In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Perry reiterated a claim he's often leveled against the federal government: that it's not doing enough to secure the border with Mexico and as a result, has allowed illegal immigrants to enter the U.S. and use taxpayer-funded resources, including the prison system.
The letter was dated Aug. 10, three days before the Republican governor formally announced he is running for president.
Reached after-hours Friday by phone, DHS spokesman Matthew Chandler said he wasn't in position to comment and said he could not confirm that the DHS had even received the letter.
Perry has been criticized by some fellow conservatives as being too lenient on illegal immigration issues. Unlike fellow GOP presidential hopeful Rep. Michele Bachmann
In his two-page letter to Napolitano, Perry described the formula used to come up with his $349.2 million bill, including $94.4 million to cover costs incurred by county jails
In his two-page letter to Napolitano, Perry described the formula used to come up with his $349.2 million bill, including $94.4 million to cover costs incurred by county jails.
"During tough economic times, when communities are making difficult decisions about their own budgets, Texas counties are being asked to cover more than $94.4 million in direct costs related to housing illegal immigrants while the state has been left to cover more than $254.8 million in such costs."
He included a memo from Comptroller Susan Combs in which she supports his calculations but warns that the estimates are conservative.
"The longstanding failure of the federal government to secure our border with Mexico continues to burden local communities and resources in Texas," Perry wrote. "Because there are not enough troops on the ground, illegal immigrants are able to penetrate the Texas border every day and use taxpayer-funded resources."
Perry is not the first governor to try to bill the federal government for the costs of incarcerating illegal immigrants. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, sued the DHS in February seeking compensation for incarceration costs, among other things. And Napolitano herself, who preceded Brewer as Arizona governor, regularly sent the Justice Department invoices seeking such reimbursement before she became Homeland Security secretary.
Wild Thing's comment.........
I smiled when I read this today. Good for Texas and Gov. Perry for doing this.
Regarding the fence along the border, many of those living near the border to not want the fence the farmers and rancher there need the Rio Grande for thei rfarms and ranches. That is why Perry wants it taken care of differently and has said so. That is also why he has been attacked with lies making it seem he does not want to do anything about the borders when he does.
One of the things Rick Perry after years battling the Texas legislature Perry finally won on photo id for voting.The purpose is to prevent illegals from voting.
Perry wants a federal government that will POLICE our border with proper manpower, as Perry requests at least annually, and a federal government that will DEPORT illegals, as Perry requests at least annually.
Perry on the Issues
http://www.ontheissues.org/Rick_Perry.htm
Posted by Wild Thing at August 27, 2011 05:45 AM
Comments
This is an issue upon which border state Texas Governor Perry wins big time.
It is an issue upon which this President has completely and deliberately failed to do his job enforcing American borders, a basic and legitimate function of the federal government.
Some of us have short memories, but I cannot forget in the Spring of last year this President together with Mexican President Calderon both speaking from the White House against border state Governors like Arizona.
It was appalling, deplorable, and yes, treasonous.
Our miserable open borders community organizer said, "we are defined not by our borders, but by our bonds."
That's not oratory. It's nonsense, political correctness and hooey from the left at its most damaging.
We are not citizens of the world, we are American citizens !
Ronald Reagan told us, "A nation without borders is not a nation".
Sweeping reforms and enforcement are needed within the executive branch that defend American interests and protect American citizens first. We well discussed this then as we well should now:
http://www.theodoresworld.net/archives/2010/05/antiamerican_obama_and_caldero.html
Posted by: Carlos at August 27, 2011 08:06 AM
Carlos, thank you I agree so much.
I will never forget how Obama allowed Calderon to go to various States and bash America and dictate how our country has to allow illegals etc.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 27, 2011 04:01 PM
Obama and Holder should personally be billed for not doing their jobs.
Posted by: Avitar at August 27, 2011 08:28 PM
Facebooked. :)
Posted by: GM Roper at August 28, 2011 01:51 AM
Avitar, GREAT idea, I agree.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 28, 2011 05:25 AM
GM, oh wow thank you so much.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 28, 2011 05:27 AM
