The following information was provided by a study performed by the University of Arizona in 2006. The full report of all border counties in the US can be seen
here. New Mexico has 3 ports of entry and 180 miles of border length. In 2005 New Mexico apprehended 22,314 undocumented immigrants trying to cross the border illegally. It is also important to note that while strategies are implemented to hinder illegal crossings in Arizona and Texas, New Mexico counties pick up the slack, especially in the “boot heel” part of Hidalgo County. Agents at the Deming station, which includes both Luna and Hidalgo counties, guard the busiest corridor for undocumented immigration in the El Paso Sector. In 2006 the estimated total cost to Dona Ana County for providing services to undocumented immigrants was $6,205,128, the total cost to Luna County was $679,639 and the total cost to Hidalgo County’s general fund for providing services to undocumented immigrants was $450,132bringing the total cost to $7,334,899 in New Mexico. Between 1999 and 2006, it is estimated that citizens in these three border counties have spent a total of $239 million in eight years for providing services to undocumented immigrants.
Costs absorbed by the Sheriff’s DepartmentHidalgo County spent $263,360 which is 25% of their $823,000 budget.
Luna County spent $548,329 which is also 25% of their $1,713,526 budget.
Dona Ana County spent $3,463,572 which is 30% of their $9,236,192 budget.
Costs absorbed by the detention centersHidalgo spent $186,772 which is 30% of their $486,386 budget
Luna County spent $120,730 of their $6,356,750 budget
Dona Ana spent $3,463,572 which is 30% of their $9,236,192 budget
Costs absorbed by the judicial systemLuna county spent $10,580 which is 20% of their $41,328 budget
Dona Ana spent $50,860 which is 10% of their $406,877 budget
Some other costs to consider are healthcare and education for undocumented immigrants. According to
FAIRUS , New Mexico spent $5,127,456 in 2004 providing emergency services. Another study performed by FAIRUS in 2004 called “
Breaking the Piggy Bank: How Illegal Immigration is Sending Schools into the Red” includes data that educational expenditures for illegal immigration were costing the New Mexico taxpayer $153.2 million dollars annually. This cost was partially for educating students who were themselves illegally in the country ($ 63.8 million) and in part for the education of their siblings born in the United States to illegal residents ($89.3 million).
The Senate has proven to America that lame duck sessions should be banned. One controversial moratorium that was up for vote Tuesday was the earmark ban. This ban would stop elected officials from appropriating funds for special projects without approval from the executive branch. More importantly, it would stop some of the political games played between our elected officials. For instance, H.R. 847 the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act which guarantees healthcare to 9/11 responders was tossed around in congress for years lacking bi-partisan support mostly because of the large amount of earmarks. Instead of the Democrats passing the bill through a simple majority they demanded a two-thirds majority vote. Democrats decided to pull a “procedural gimmick “ and forced Republicans either to eat humble pie or to oppose the bill and be open to charges that they were abandoning the heroes of 9/11. The Senate had a chance to end this madness but instead they decided t
o vote against the two year ban on earmarks. Only 42 Republicans have Senate seats in the lame duck session and most of the anti-earmark Republicans will not take their seats until January so this vote may not come as a surprise to some. The moratorium on earmarks was included in SB 510 the Food Safety Modernization Act and the Senate voted in favor of this giant FDA power grab today. This atrocity could make sharing food from your own private garden a “national security threat”. This bill would also lead to a much larger, powerful and overgrown FDA. The roll call session is available here. Clearly lame duck sessions are for the self indulgent politicians to stuff their pork filled bellies. We as voters should never allow politicians who have been defeated at the polls to continue to raise taxes, set policy or spend money that the electorate has decided someone else should be doing.
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