Jay Kim: “I rise in strong support of the amendment to reimburse States and localities for the costs of incarcerating undocumented…”

“I rise in strong support of the amendment to reimburse States and localities for the costs of incarcerating undocumented criminal immigrants. For too long, American tax dollars have been spent on feeding, clothing, and housing illegal immigrants in American prisons. In my own State of California, the cost of imprisoning illegal immigrants was over $500 million last year alone. Because the Federal Government has failed to abide by its own laws and reimburse California for faulty immigration policies made here in Washington, this responsibility has been shouldered by California's taxpayers. But Californians are no longer able or willing to pay these high costs. Over the past 2 years, California has been rocked by devastating earthquakes, burned by rioters in Los Angeles, and bowled over by mudslides and floods. These tragedies have cost billions of dollars. Yet, the Federal Government still forces these same Californians to pay for benefits that go to nontaxpaying lawbreakers. This is outrageous. And it doesn't stop there. Imagine my amazement when I opened my April 14 edition of the Washington Post and read with disbelief that the Immigration and Naturalization Service was halting its policy of running routine fingerprint checks on immigrants.”