BREAKING THE BANK

Costs of illegal immigration should show Americans the need for reform

Complete article at:
http://www.tristate-media.com/articl...s/editorial/03
sterrett.txt

Our great opposition to illegal immigration should not stem from economics, but
from national security. But a quick review of the monetary costs of the
ultra-porous U.S.-Mexico border is indispensable.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) reports that the state of
California--just one border-state--spends more than $10 billion on illegal
aliens every year. Golden State taxpayers spend $7.7 billion on K-12 education
for illegal immigrant children and their U.S.-born siblings. This can be added
to the $1.4 billion spent on healthcare for illegals, and another $1.4 billion
for the incarceration of illegals.

If the cash aspect isn't enough for you, FAIR also points out that the 9/11
Commission was fairly unequivocal on the matter of illegal immigration. "We
know that in the 1990's, terrorists exploited the U.S. immigration system to
enter and stay in the United States," the Commission said. "Americans should
not be exempt from enabling their identities to be securely verified when they
enter the United States; nor should Canadians or Mexicans."