State Legislature discusses illegal immigration

Last updated Monday, August 13, 2007 6:53 PM CDT in News

By Jason Wiest
THE MORNING NEWS

    LITTLE ROCK -- Immigrants, both legal and illegal, cost the state about $170 million a year, according to statistics state agencies provided Monday to a joint meeting of legislative committees studying the impact of illegal immigration in Arkansas.

    Public secondary education accounts for $154 million of the expense, although some of that cost is attributable to legal immigrants because student citizenship status is not tracked.

    State courts and police departments spent $14.7 million on immigrants in 2004, while the state Department of Correction spent $1.8 million on illegal immigrants last year.

    "We must close the barn door before everything's gone," said Sen. Ruth Whittaker, R-Cedarville. "This is going to have an enormous economic impact on our state far beyond what any of us imagined."

    Some members of the House and Senate Interim Committees on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs hope to lay the groundwork this summer for enacting legislation during the 2009 regular session to curb the population surge of illegal immigrants, similar to efforts already enacted in surrounding states.

    Arkansas' Hispanic population grew 48 percent between 2000 and 2005, faster than any other state, according to a 2007 study by The Urban Institute.

    While Congress has struggled to produce much immigration legislation, last year state governments passed twice as many laws regarding illegal immigration than the year prior, according to a study by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

    Oklahoma recently passed legislation denying jobs and public benefits to illegal immigrants. Tennessee now revokes the business licenses of companies that knowingly employ illegal immigrants and has made it a crime to transport them into the state.

    This year, Arkansas lawmakers made it illegal for state contractors to hire illegal immigrants, but failed to pass legislation that would have made it illegal to harbor and transport illegal immigrants into the state.

    "With the states around us getting pretty tough on employers and illegal immigrants themselves, we don't want to become the only haven in the area," said Rep. Donna Hutchinson, R-Bella Vista, noting that she is a member of the Blackfoot Indian tribe.

    "And if you want to know what happens when you don't secure your borders, ask any Indian," she said.

    Rep. Jon Woods, R-Springdale, said a doctor in his district told him of an illegal immigrant who was trying to claim residency from a hotel room to get Medicaid benefits.

    Woods said he expects the cost of illegal immigrants to the state to double once information from the Department of Health is available. A study commissioned by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation estimated that the net cost to the state for health services to immigrants in 2004 was $36.7 million.

    Investigating and documenting such costs will help the state gain the "whole picture" of illegal immigrants' economic impact, Woods said.

    The same study found that the total annual economic impact of immigrants on the state's economy is nearly $3 billion. Illegal immigrants make possible $1.4 billion in production annually for state manufacturers and other companies, which pay them $95 million less than they would legal citizens, the study found.

    Focused on finding ways to trim state expenses, legislators honed in on the Arkansas Department of Education, which spent $4.6 million last year to provide educational services to 23,599 students who were not proficient in English, known as English Language Learners. Of these students, 88 percent are Hispanic, but not necessarily illegal.

    The 13,000-student Springdale School District alone had 6,126 such students.

    "If we're looking at places that we can save money, I think we just found the pot at the end of the rainbow right here," said Rep. Denny Sumpter, D-West Memphis.

    However, the U.S. Supreme Court requires such education for students who need it, regardless of their citizenship status, said Andre Guerrero, director of the state Education Department's English Language Learners office.

    Still, legislators said they wanted to track education expenses for illegal immigrants, which isn't done because of the Supreme Court ruling.

    "I think it's incumbent on the Legislature to be able to recognize and identify to the taxpayers of the state what benefits are being paid to those that are not legal citizens, whether we can do anything about it or not," said Rep. Rick Green, R-Van Buren.

    The committee has another meeting scheduled on the matter in September.

    Razorback Central
    July 2nd, 2009
    Richards Signs with Marlins

    Reader Comments (26 comment(s))


    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.

    Madison wrote on Aug 14, 2007 5:45 AM:

    " It's time Arkansas does something to stop this invasion.Every state around us except Texas have already passed laws against illegals.................. Public Support Strong for New Immigration Enforcement Published by The Watchdog August 13th, 2007 in Law enforcement. Rasmussen Reports Seventy-nine percent (79%) of American adults favor a proposal requiring employers to fire workers who falsify identity documents. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 9% are opposed while 12% are not sure. The survey was conducted as the Bush Administration announced a series of proposals designed to crack down on illegal immigration. One proposal would require companies to fire workers if proper documents are not provided by the employee within 90 days. While this proposal has upset some immigrant-rights leaders, most Americans would like to go even further—74% believe that if a person wants to rent an apartment they should be required to provide documents proving they are in the country legally. Just 17% are opposed. "

    Madison wrote on Aug 14, 2007 6:21 AM:

    " It's like Deacon and I have been telling everyone for awhile now,join Numbers USA and let your elected officals know how you feel about the illegal aliens in this country.My husband and I are both members and send faxes everytime they are made available.It's time you let the government officals know how you feel,or lose this country to invaders. "

    Robb wrote on Aug 14, 2007 8:25 AM:

    " Good for you Madison. If people want action, they have to initiate it, because the politicians will only react to what gets them the most "votes." And, if all the states around us enact illegal immigration reforms, guess where they will all come? No matter what the naysayers preach, this is NOT about racisim. It's about our culture, quality of life and security. I wouldn't go to another country and expect them to bend over backwards learning English, changing the fabric of communities and expecting entitlements. "

    ozarks wrote on Aug 14, 2007 8:42 AM:

    " 2009 is a long time off. They should have done something this past session. I won't forget they did nothing this year when it comes time for elections next year. But at least we are getting action! "

    BCR wrote on Aug 14, 2007 9:08 AM:

    " I have no problem supporting a program against ILLEGAL immigrants. I do have one that is focused against legal immigration. After all, aside from Ms. Hutchinson who is a descendant from an American Indian tribe, we're all descendants of immigrants from somewhere... The Hispanics occupied most of the country before we got here and chased them off. Illegal immigration must be stopped, for our financial security, and the security of our nation. What is misleading about this article is that it "lumps" immigrants, both legal and illegal into one monetary figure. That's not right. What does illegal immigrant support cost? That's the number I want to see. "

    Madison wrote on Aug 14, 2007 9:12 AM:

    " Yes ozarks,I think a lot of us will remember when election time comes next year who isn't doing their job,like Senator Lincoln who has voted for amnesty everytime.I have sent e-mails and faxes to both our senators,and Representive Bozeman.Senator Pryor,and Rep.Bozeman have always answered with letters or e-mails,but Senator Lincoln has never answered one time.She has forgotten that she works for the citizens who elected her to office. "

    justalocal wrote on Aug 14, 2007 9:23 AM:

    " We can't blame all our crime on illegals, nor should we assume anyone arrested is automatically a illegal!! 2 of the next 3 stories prove my point. American citizens robbing pharmacy and another killing his half brother. We need to get a grip on illegals I agree, but prejudice against all hispanics isn't fair either. "

    cybertech wrote on Aug 14, 2007 9:29 AM:

    " Hey wait a minute, just a few months back were we not reading an article that explained that they were a boon on Arkansas economy???? lol Interesting. Anyway I have to agree that it is about time they began to realize that any boon is offset thrice+ by the drain. I also agree that many politicians, the media, special interest groups and even ordinary people need to stop lumping illegal and legal immigrants together with respect to the numbers. Legal immigrants (or US Citizens if you will), tend to contribute positively in most respects, while illegals tend to contribute negatively in most respects. Even if that illegal is just here "to better their life" they are still a drain. Its time for the "politically correct" to come back to reality and get this country back on track. "

    Madison wrote on Aug 14, 2007 9:36 AM:

    " justalocal,it's not prejudice to be againts illegal aliens.They come in a number of different races,not just Hispanic,all though Hispanics are the biggest offeneders.There are several thousand in this country illegally from Ireland,I'm against them being here too,so I don't think that makes me prejudice. "

    gary wrote on Aug 14, 2007 9:50 AM:

    " I would propose this, why not insist that those people who draw welfare that are really able to work, to become employeed in the more meaniable jobs. Such as Tysons, Georges, Fast Food Cooks, etc. and then the illegals wouldn't be here, as prevelant as they are, because there wouldn't be the jobs for them to take. Just a quick thought. "

    Madison wrote on Aug 14, 2007 9:57 AM:

    " You can read this artical on American Patrol--- Christian Science Monitor Editorial A worthy check on illegal workers. The backlash has been swift and powerful. No sooner did the Bush administration announce new measures to enforce the nation's immigration laws last week than opponents jumped to their feet to object . But Washington must resist and give enforcement a chance to work. Standing up to the critics won't be easy. Businesses that depend on illegal immigrants for low-wage labor are warning of disaster under the new regulations, especially those that affect the workplace. "

    Madison wrote on Aug 14, 2007 10:24 AM:

    " Gary that's a great idea,but our government has made this mess with welfare.There's so much abuse of the system that was met to be a hand-up,not a hand-out.It has gone on for so long,passed down from one genereration to another these people think it is owed to them.There are a lot of jobs that some of them could do if they weren't just plain lazy.It's sad that it has come to this. "

    Deacon wrote on Aug 14, 2007 10:31 AM:

    " It's good to see that our elected officials are strting to realize what we tax paying citizens have been telling them all along. If we don't enact / enforce our laws all of the illegal immigrants will be coming to our state. On www. Lou Dobbs Tonight. Com his most recent poll has 98% of the people saying federal funding to sanctuary cities should be denied to them until they start enforcing illegal immigration laws. We must act now or our STATE will become even more of a sanctuary........Check out WWW. NUMBERS USA. COM....... we are starting to make a difference but still need more voices to be heard. "

    Citizen wrote on Aug 14, 2007 11:49 AM:

    " Usterluvrogers, you are right. I worked two days in the health dept. when I went back to school to further my nursing degree. In that two days, two women showed up with the same ID pretending to be the same person. However, they had different weights, heights, and ages. I brought it to someone's attention there and they told me that it happens all the time but they have to treat them or they might take diseases out into the community. This is an outrage. I was sick. When my sister's husband abandoned her and their 4 kids, she couldn't get any help until she found a job. She struggled to get the kids on arkids1st. She was turned away at the health dept. when she was diagnosed with cancer. Mercy wouldn't see her because she owed a hospital bill there and couldn't pay. She finally found a good hearted doctor in another hospital system to see her and help her. When she did finally get on welfare, she got stuck for a while and couldn't afford to get a job or she would lose the help with food stamps and couldn't afford day care. She finally broke out but only because she's strong and has family support. Our system is flawed severely. We make it easy for illegals to come over and get welfare. No wonder they are flocking here in mass numbers. "

    Madison wrote on Aug 14, 2007 12:28 PM:

    " Citizen,I'm glad your sister finally got help and is doing better now.That is what our welfare system was designed for,not for illegals to come here and abuse.You're right it's no wonder they have invaded this country,not to mention the fact that they abuse the 14th amendment by giving birth here. "

    Tspud wrote on Aug 14, 2007 2:23 PM:

    " This article doesn't take into account other costs that ILLEGALS move unto the taxpayer. It says 170 million 154 for school & 16 million from courts & police. Those figures are based on 2004 figures so they are way under on that amount. You have a huge dollar amount from prenatal care, food stamps, housing, earned income credit, loss of tax revenue, burdened infrastructure & who can put a dollar amount on the crimes(DUI,etc) & drugs they commit? All ILLEGALS are criminals and we have enough problems with crime without adding more by way of these. "

    Madison wrote on Aug 14, 2007 2:27 PM:

    " Here's an artical from Immigration Watchdog................ Learn From The Fall Of Rome, US Warned Published by The Watchdog August 14th, 2007 in Quality of life. FT.com The US government is on a ‘burning platform’ of unsustainable policies and practices with fiscal deficits, chronic healthcare underfunding, immigration and overseas military commitments threatening a crisis if action is not taken soon, the country’s top government inspector has warned. David Walker, comptroller general of the US, issued the unusually downbeat assessment of his country’s future in a report that lays out what he called “chilling long-term simulations”. These include “dramatic” tax rises, slashed government services and the large-scale dumping by foreign governments of holdings of US debt. Drawing parallels with the end of the Roman empire, Mr Walker warned there were “striking similarities” between America’s current situation and the factors that brought down Rome, including “declining moral values and political civility at home, an over-confident and over-extended military in foreign lands and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government”. "

    Charlie J wrote on Aug 14, 2007 4:53 PM:

    " There is an organization called FAIR which is more effective than Numbers. They appear before congress frequently to present the case against illegal aliens. I will post their site later. I am in my office now. "

    Deacon wrote on Aug 15, 2007 12:16 AM:

    " Madison..... I have had the same response from our elected officials. After e-mails and faxes I have always received letters in the mail from Rep. Boozman and Sen. Pryor, but absolutley nothing from Sen.Lincoln. When she goes up for re-election she'll get the same from myself. One of the things I like about NumbersUSA is their " Report Cards " on all of the electees. Boozman A+ ; Pryor C ; and Lincoln D- (good to know at election time). "

    Madison wrote on Aug 15, 2007 9:49 PM:

    " Associated Press Congressman says invaders overwhelm cops in NW Arkansas Little Rock, Ark. -- U.S. Rep. John Boozman said Hispanic [illegal aliens... criminals] coming to northwest Arkansas overwhelm police and courts with false identities, leaving warrants unserved and cases unprosecuted. -- "There's chaos involved," Boozman told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday... You can read the rest of this story on American Patrol 8/15/07 "

    3744 wrote on Aug 16, 2007 6:10 PM:

    " It's disgusting the amount of illegal aliens who have committed crimes here in the United States, and then just been released on the citizens, to commit more crime under another false identity they create in the next town or state they invade. When they are caught, they should be immediately deported. No second chances. "

    Madison wrote on Aug 17, 2007 9:05 AM:

    " " Consul Says Immigration Law Worries Hispanic Community Mexican consul Andres Chao says a sweeping Oklahoma law denying benefits and jobs to illegal immigrants raises concerns among the Hispanic community around the region. Chao says those concerns come as police agencies in northwest Arkansas prepare to send officers to federal immigration training. However, as Arkansas' cost of living remains low, he says the state and surrounding area will draw immigrants wanting to save money to send home to their families. Some Arkansas legislators this week suggested that stricter laws in Oklahoma and Tennessee would cause more illegal immigrants to move to Arkansas. Chao says immigrants would continue to come to Arkansas, home to one of the nation's fastest growing Hispanic populations....This is from American Patrol....Lucky us be be so popular with the Hispanics.Maybe that will change if we get some laws here against the illegals. " "

    clucknot wrote on Aug 17, 2007 1:16 PM:

    " It will take Arkansas a long time to address this issue in any constructive way.Can anyone recall a time when Arkansas was a pioneer or on the cutting edge of anything? I can't.This needs to be fixed or as so many of you have already stated these vermin will flow into Arkansas like so much filth into a storm drain,following the path of least resistence.Tell your state reps to fix the problem now. "

    keeparkansaslegal wrote on Aug 17, 2007 4:19 PM:

    " I will have video footage of the meetings on this blog by sometime next week. http://keeparkansaslegal.blogspot.com/ "

    Madison wrote on Aug 18, 2007 1:33 PM:

    " OMG!!!! Federal Agency Backs Open Border To Mexican Trucks Published by The Watchdog August 18th, 2007 in Free Trade Agreements, North American Union, Superhighway. SignOnSanDiego WASHINGTON – A federal transportation agency yesterday defended President Bush’s plan to open the border to long-haul Mexican truck traffic in a response to overwhelmingly negative public views of the proposal. The 27-page defense appearing in the Federal Register advances the controversial cross-border trucking pilot program one step closer to implementation. Bush has sought to conduct the program as part of his effort to comply with a provision of the North American Free Trade Agreement requiring the United States and Mexico to open their borders to each other’s commercial trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which would conduct the program, acknowledged that the vast majority of the more than 2,300 public comments it received were opposed to the proposed one-year experiment. But the agency argued that it is committed to making sure Mexican truck drivers obey all U.S. rules and regulations during the trial. The program would allow up to 100 Mexican carriers to send trucks into the United States. Opponents – including the Teamsters union, other trucking and safety organizations and dozens of lawmakers – contend that Mexican drivers would pose a hazard on U.S. highways and would displace American truck drivers because they work for lower wages. "

    Madison wrote on Aug 18, 2007 3:33 PM:

    " Charlie J forgot to come back with the web address for fair,so here it is---- www.fairus.org "


    *Member ID:
    *Password:
      Forgot Your Password?
     

    Not already registered?
    Register Now

    E-Edition


    Click here to get it all!

    Sponsors

















    Media Partners

    Fayetteville Free Weekly

    Stephens Media

    Arkansas News Bureau

    La Prensa

    Hawgs Illustrated

    Washington County Newspaper

    McDonald County Press

    KUAF

    Channels 40/29