Posted on 09/12/2007 8:29:51 PM PDT by LouAvul
It would cost at least $94 billion to find, detain and remove all 12 million people believed to be staying illegally in the United States, the federal government estimated Wednesday.
Julie Myers, the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, gave the figure during a hearing before a Senate committee Wednesday.
She acknowledged it was based on "very rough calculations."
An ICE spokesman later said the $94 billion did not include the cost of finding illegal immigrants, nor court costs -- dollar amounts that are largely unknowable.
He said the amount was calculated by multiplying the estimated 12 million people by the average cost of detaining people for a day: $97. That was multiplied by the average length of detention: 32 days.
ICE officials also considered transportation costs, which average $1,000 per person.
But that amount can vary widely, the spokesman said. Some deportees are simply driven by bus across the border, while others must take charter planes to distant countries, he said.
Finally, the department looked at personnel costs, bringing the total to roughly $94 billion.
The statistic is likely to become one more piece of fodder in the heated debate between the Bush administration -- which has fought for a "path to citizenship" for people who have lived peaceably in the United States -- and those who want to see more aggressive enforcement of immigration laws, up to, and including, the deportation of all illegal immigrants.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
you want to make them fly coach? are you a cruel bigot or what? you can get blood clots from flying coach. you might as well just go out and shoot them
I’m sure we can detain them as long as you want for the low, low introductory price of only $49.95 a day. Not only that, but when you decide to stop paying the $49.95/day, we’ll settle for only $499.95. No need to hassle with returning anything. Keep whats left of ‘em as our gift. Sound like a deal? Hey, the judicial system doesn’t even need to be involved. /sarcoff
This is BS.
All that needs to be done is prosecute all the employers that have multiple employees on one social security number. The illegals will leave on their own when the jobs dry up.
That's a great great question! Thanks.
Go for it big time.
Cut ALL benefits to illegals end the anchor baby BS ... Jail and heavily fine anyone who knowingly employees an illegal ... land mine a 100 yard “no mans zone between two walls at the border ... poof problem gone
Spend it !!
I’ll even check a little box on my tax return to send in more to replenish the fund!
A bargain.
Git 'er done! (...and make sure the fence is built so we don't have to do it again!)
there’d be mass insurrection.
How about we trade the illegals to Russia for oil, they want more people???
Problem solved within 12 months.
just today I was at the bank and some lady at the window next to me speaking broken spanglish with about six kids in tow,( and those six will each have six while americans have abortions) pulled out a handfull of fresh ID cards, they sure looked fake from where I was standing, the cheap copy social security card with no watermarks in the field and wrong color blue ink really stood out, or they could just use their "foot in the door" kids SSN
I’ll help with the collection and consider it a service to my entire community.
DiFi could give up her $4b earmark for a park in West LA.
Money well spent. And the beauty of it, is that they won’t have to spend even half that. they will start hightailing out as soon as we start getting serious and deporting the first couple million...
Yeah, what's the federal budget now? 5 Trillion or something? 500 Billion can be made up in not giving benefits to illegal aliens, it pays for itself.
And it will be worth every last dime.So lets get it done.
That would take care of all of those who work for corps, and leave us with the criminals and welfare cases. Why not start with the bad actors, instead?
There’s way more illegals here than 12 million. That really messes up the calculations!
Bogus propaganda. “Detain and remove”, LMAO!!!
It would cost NOTHING to get rid of them if they left of their own volition:
1. Build a long, strong, effective border fence.
2. Increase border patrols and assure that agents have real enforcment power. (No “catch and release”, etc.)
3. DENY illegal aliens access to any government services, including schools. Require mandatory, automatic deportation of any illegal alien who ATTEMPTS to ACCESS any government service, whether such service is federal, state, or local. (Note: The only exception would be dire-emergency medical treatment, followed immediately [after sufficient recovery time] by mandatory, automatic deportation.)
4. REQUIRE a MANDATORY jail sentence for any illegal alien found to be holding fraudulent identification, followed by mandatory, automatic deportation. (Note: Lengthier jail sentences would be MANDATORY for the “identity theft” of living American citizens.)
5. Require fines and criminal proceedings against any employer (including company officers and responsible hiring personnel) who knowingly hires and employs illegal aliens. Jail for repeat offenders.
6. “Anchor babies” (babies born to illegal alien parents) are to be DENIED citizenship, and are to be immediately deported along with their parents. (Note: This provision should be made retroactive for existing “anchor babies”, up to an age to be debated.)
7. All law enforcement officers (federal, state, or local) who IN THE COURSE OF THEIR NORMAL DAILY LAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES become aware of an illegal alien’s status are REQUIRED to notify the appropriate federal authorities immediately and hold that alien in custody for up to two days (sufficient time for federal authorities to take custody and deport).
8. Make English the “official” national language and require that everyone who applies for residency status or citizenship (and their school-age minor dependents) demonstrate some level of proficiency in the national language.
(Note: Jail sentences noted in the provisions above MUST be MANDATORY MINIMUM sentences in order to avoid “end runs” by liberal activist Democrat judges.)
The above eight provisions, if passed, would largely solve the illegal alien problem. Illegals would disappear BY ATTRITION since they would be: a) unemployable without proper authorization, b) unable to access government welfare and other services, c) unable to enroll their illegal alien children in government schools, and d) unable to use the despicable “anchor baby” ploy.
Many, if not most, illegal aliens will return to their countries of origin voluntarily once it is clear to them that there is little reason to remain in the US.
**** Note: No logistically burdensome and expensive “roundup” of 12 million-plus illegal aliens is required, recommended, or even necessary. Illegal aliens would disappear by ATTRITION. Therefore, the “red herring” argument that it would be “impossible to deport all 20 million illegal aliens” becomes moot. ****
Meanwhile, reasonable LEGAL immigration laws (including a “guest worker” program) should be streamlined, strictly controlled, and RELENTLESSLY ENFORCED in order to address the legitimate needs of U.S. employers.
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