FEDS' CASH FOR JAILING ALIENS FALLS WAY SHORT.Byline: Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County will get $12.5 million from the feds next year to lock up illegal immigrants illegal immigrant n. an alien (non-citizen) who has entered the United States without government permission or stayed beyond the termination date of a visa. (See: alien) who commit crimes, but local leaders said that's barely enough to pay for their prison jumpsuits. The money is part of $285 million Congress approved last year for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, and which the Department of Justice allocated Monday. California prisons will get $121.1 million, with $85 million going to the state. ``That's it?'' said Terry Thornton, spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections, which oversees 16,178 prison inmates with immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. ``holds.'' At an average yearly cost of $33,581 to feed, house, clothe and provide medical treatment for each prisoner, the state tab for imprisoning illegal immigrants exceeds $543 million. Thornton noted that the $85 million goes into the state's general fund and not directly to the Department of Corrections. Regardless, she said, ``It's just a fraction of what is spent.'' Steven Whitmore, spokesman for Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca Leroy David Baca (b. May 27 1942, East Los Angeles, California) is the Sheriff of Los Angeles County, California. After graduating from Benjamin Franklin High School (Los Angeles) in 1960, Baca worked his way through East Los Angeles College before starting with the L.A. , agreed. The county received $12.5 million, he said, which is what it expected. ``But our costs are $80 million to $90 million a year, so it falls way short.'' Ventura County will get $564,000; Riverside County, $1.2 million; and San Bernardino San Bernardino, city, United States San Bernardino (săn bûr'nədē`nō), city (1990 pop. 164,164), seat of San Bernardino co., S Calif., at the foot of the San Bernardino Mts.; inc. 1854. County, $407,580. Lawmakers noted that a 2006 funding bill that President George W. Bush is expected to sign significantly amps up reimbursement Reimbursement Payment made to someone for out-of-pocket expenses has incurred. money to $405 million, and they vowed to push for more. ``This funding goes a long way toward ensuring that the federal government lives up to its responsibility to pay for incarcerating criminal aliens,'' said Sen. Dianne Feinstein Dianne Goldman Berman Feinstein (born June 22, 1933) is the senior U.S. Senator from California, having held office as a senator since 1992. She is a member of the Democratic Party. . But, she said, ``There is no question that far more funding is needed.'' Lisa Friedman, (202) 662-8731 lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com |
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