Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Feinstein Bill to
Authorize Funds for Incarceration of Illegal Immigrants
July 18, 2002

Washington, DC - The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved legislation offered by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to reauthorize $750 million for an important program that helps relieve some of the high costs of incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens incurred by state and local governments.

Funding authorization for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) was established as part of the 1994 Crime Act. Last year, state and local counties received $565 million in federal funds for the program. The states with high populations such as California continue to shoulder extraordinary criminal alien incarceration costs. In fact, one out of every seven prison beds in California is occupied by an illegal criminal alien.

"I am pleased that the Judiciary Committee has reauthorized funding for the SCAAP program," Senator Feinstein said. "More and more, the fiscal consequences of incarcerating criminal illegal aliens are being dealt to the state and local communities. This bill would properly vest with the Federal government the fiscal burden of incarcerating illegal immigrants who commit crimes in our communities."

This year, however, the Bush Administration has sought to eliminate funds for the program. The Administration's proposed cuts come at a time when state and county governments face more than $13 billion in incarceration costs. Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee did not include funding for the SCAAP program in the FY 2003 Commerce, State and Justice Appropriations legislation.

"I believe it would be a terrible mistake to eliminate funding for the SCAAP program," Senator Feinstein said. "The bottom line is that the control of illegal immigration is a Federal responsibility, but more and more of this burden is shifting to our State and local governments. When the Federal government fails to control the nation's borders, local taxpayers should not have to foot the bill. I will do all I can to ensure that the SCAAP program receives the funding that it deserves."

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