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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > April > 07
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Sheriff counts on illegal immigrants to balance budget
This story in Sunday’s Columbus Dispatch takes a look at the financial toll of illegal immigration, including the revenue benefit it gives to the Butler County jail.
According to the article, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office billed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) roughly $3.2 million to house and transport detainees last year.
Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones is quoted heavily in the article:
“It would be very difficult to do without” the ICE contract, said Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones, an outspoken critic of illegal immigration. “I would, but I’d have to lay people off. And I’d have to cut my prison population.”
On the other side:
“It’s hypocritical,” said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. “It’s a two-faced approached to justice. On one hand, these men and women put up a big face about immigrants not coming into our country. And on the other, their pockets are filling up with money.”
Furthermore:
Local jails’ use of ICE funds to offset costs “does not bode well for Latinos who live in those communities,” said Ricardo Meza, regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. “The need to obtain federal ICE funds will no doubt increase unlawful targeting of Latino drivers and persons by local police, thus leading to racial profiling.”
Responds Jones:
Jones said he’s aware of the criticism. “You get the typical complaints: ‘You’re a racist. You’re a bigot. You’re profiling,’” the sheriff said. “I’ve sent out a memorandum. If (the deputies) were doing that, I’d fire them.” The solution for illegal immigrants is simple, he said: “Come here legally. Don’t violate the law. Become a U.S. citizen.”
There’s a lot more to the article. Read it at the link at the beginning of this post then come back and let us know: What do you think?
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