Commentary by Duncan D. Hunter (Capt., USMC, Res.)

Border Counties Suffer While The Federal Government Fails To Do Its Job

March 14, 2008
By: Duncan Hunter

A recent report that the cost of apprehending, arresting and convicting illegal immigrants is “crippling” our courts and criminal justice system should come as no surprise. Those of us who live along the U.S-Mexico border have experienced for many years the huge costs involved with unchecked illegal immigration. 

The report by the U.S.-Mexico Border Counties Coalition spells out the serious problems created by a border that remains mostly wide-open and unprotected. The statistical findings contained in the report clearly illustrate that border regions like San Diego County will continue to be unnecessarily burdened by the costs of dealing with illegal immigrants until our borders are secured and our immigration laws are rightly enforced.

From 1999 to 2006, the 24 contributing border counties aggregately report spending more than $1.2 billion on services to process illegal immigrants through law enforcement and criminal justice systems. In San Diego County alone, an astounding $77,096,995 was spent on these services in 2006, more than double the estimated $34 million for comparable services in 1999. 

The growing costs of apprehending and adjudicating illegal immigrants in our County are directly transferred to each and every one of us, primarily through a combination of state and local taxes. 

It is clear the federal government has not lived up to its responsibility and that its immigration and enforcement strategy is not working. We cannot wait one day longer to enforce the law and protect the border. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) currently possesses both the mandate and financial resources to build much-needed infrastructure along the U.S.-Mexico border. The San Diego Border Fence has dramatically improved conditions on both sides of the border and closed what was once considered the most prolific smuggling corridor between the U.S. and Mexico. We need to replicate this type of infrastructure in other border regions.

Unfortunately, DHS believes it can secure our Southern border through an increased presence of security personnel, single-layered pedestrian fencing, vehicle barriers and technology. A report recently released by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, said the technological substitute being implemented by DHS has failed to meet expectations and function as advertised. Rather than wasting any more time and taxpayer dollars, DHS should do as mandated and build the more reliable and proven double-layered infrastructure that has worked so well in San Diego County since its construction more than 10 years ago.

Additionally, there must be better coordination between the federal government, states and localities when it comes to enforcing our immigration laws. These laws must be evenly and consistently enforced, and there must be consequences for cities that maintain sanctuary policies, including disqualification from certain forms of federal funding.

The excessive costs and difficulties of moving illegal immigrants through our legal system must also be addressed. The federal government should assume a greater share of these costs, particularly when our open and unprotected borders continue to create considerable enforcement challenges for border communities. This includes increasing funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which reimburses costs for incarcerating criminal aliens, as well as other related programs and services.

The U.S.-Mexico Border Counties Coalition Report proves that conditions in border communities are not getting any better. Securing our borders and aggressively enforcing our immigration laws are logical steps that must be taken if we truly hope to control the criminal and social costs of illegal immigration.