Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Feedback on prison costs - Noland responds

I found this article on-line the other day:
Undocumented prison inmates costing state
By Sheena McFarland
The Salt Lake Tribune 06/19/2008

Federal funds to offset the costs of undocumented immigrants in Utah 's prisons pays for only about 7 percent of the cost.

In 2007, it cost about $7.7 million to imprison about 300 undocumented immigrants, but the U.S. Department of Justice's State Criminal Alien Assistance Program allotted the state only $566,000.

Utah received the largest amount of money for its undocumented prisoners in 1999, but saw a precipitous decline beginning in 2001.

Undocumented prisoners make up 4.5 percent of the Utah Department of Corrections total incarcerated population. Utah prisons have a yearly average of about 300 undocumented prisoners from 2002 to 2008, with 77 percent of that population committing violent crimes such as murder, assault and rape. From 2000 to 2008, 52 previous offenders, or about 17 percent, committed a new crime and were returned to Utah prisons. (end of quote)

So I sent this message to the following Illinois elected officials:
Mike Noland
Ruth Munson
Dan Rutherford
Frank Watson
Patricia Reid Lindner
Tom Cross
Randy Ramey

June 19, 2008
Dear State Leaders:
Below you will find a newspaper article from Utah about the expenses associated with the incarceration of illegal aliens.

I'm guessing that Illinois probably has several times the number of inmates Utah reports. After all, we rank number four in the nation in popularity as a destination for illegal aliens. We would do well to know that number, especially in light of our budget deficit and pension borrowing.

I have two questions:
1) What is the price tag for Illinois ?
2) What are you doing about it?

Please let me know.

Sincerely,
Doug Heaton
Association for Legal Americans

As of this moment (June 25th) I have received just one response, (correction, two responses) from our State Senator Mike Noland and a GOP staffer. Here are their responses:

Dear Mr. Heaton, on the issue of immigration generally….

It is easy to take the hard line saying that illegal means illegal; It is also too easy to excuse those who unlawfully enter and reside here in the U.S. at the expense of taxpayers. While some look for scapegoats, others, I know, look for free ride. But only a clearing of the air on immigration will allow us to see the light and the way on this issue.

While some would urge that only a comprehensive approach at the federal level will bring the needed relief our communities, our state and our nation deserve, I am of the belief that there are at least a few things at the state, and, perhaps, at the local level we can do to address the issue.

On the one hand, when we consider the millions of dollars (easily for the 22nd District alone) we pay police, prosecutors and judges to preside over traffic cases directly or indirectly related to immigration status, and the resulting higher cost of automobile insurance, I suggest that this is an awfully high price to pay for continuing the status quo.

On the other hand, I recognize that our nation’s generosity, boundless as I know it is, may not be equaled by its capacity to accommodate every willing entrant into its borders. And softening our laws locally may only invite increased numbers of undocumented persons into this country.

But I say this, we must also recognize that we are neither ennobled nor enriched by anger or resentment. When we allow ourselves to hate and fear others who lack citizenship and suggest that their numbers threaten our freedom or our jobs or our families, then we also learn to treat these “others” not as neighbors, which they are however uninvited, but as enemies, to be engaged not with decency but with distain; to be over-ruled and, if possible, made invisible. Voters came to my public hearing on the driver’s certificate issue because they will not tolerate being made invisible. They demand, and rightfully so, to be heard.

And, as is my duty, as their state senator, I have listened. And in listening, I have learned that we can vanquish neither anger nor resentment by merely passing or preventing the passage of any law or resolution. We can, however, consider, if only for a moment, that these “others” who live with us, like we, seek nothing more than the chance to live out a life of purpose and fulfillment for themselves and their children. And that this is simply the American dream that we all pursue.

The greatness of the American dream and this nation has been based not upon the limiting, but in the advancement, of others at every station of life. Surely together, we can re-build a common bond of faith in the American dream here in the 22nd District and the great state of Illinois . Let us set aside that which divides us and return us to the noble work of becoming a great people; great Americans, “indivisible. With liberty and justice for all.”

Senator Michael Noland

And one comment from an individual who shall remain nameless:
Mike-
As I wiped a tear from my eye while reading this, I swear I heard someone singing America the Beautiful in the background. You have said absolutely nothing more eloquently than anyone I know. Thank you….

Just as I published the above comments, this message came from Springfield. Here it is:
My name is Jim Foys and I work on the Senate Republican Staff. I have been given a copy of your email requesting some information regarding illegal immigrants in the State's Corrections System. According to the Department of Corrections, there are 1,700 illegal immigrants currently incarcerated within the Department. The Department states that this is how many illegals of which it is aware, so the actual number may be significantly higher. At a cost of approximately $24,000 per inmate per year, these illegals are costing the Department at least $41 million on an annual basis.

Additional responses received late Wednesday

Jim Foys adds that the federal government reimbursed Illinois $6.1 million for the incarceration of illegal aliens in our state prisons, a little less than 15% of the total. (Hey, they got more than Utah did!)

State Rep Randy Ramey sent this response:
Mr. Heaton,
The answer to your questions:
1) $3.5 billion (estimated)

2) Introducing legislation to mirror what Oklahoma did last year with OK HB 1804 (Rep. Randy Terrill).

I agree with your comments and have been actively working to stop this expenditure on illegal aliens. One of my bills HB 5756 has moved to second reading but has been stalled by the Latino Caucus.

Please me if you have any other questions.
Randy Ramey

State Representative
55th District
(Clearly Ramey is talking about the TOTAL cost of illegal aliens, not just the incarceration question.)

And Tom Cross sent me a message asking me to subscribe to his newsletter, but did not offer any comments or answers.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Hospital report

Anyone working on the illegal alien crisis soon runs into the problem of gathering information. I think sometimes we assume too much. That is to say, we start believing that every foreigner in town must be an illegal.

Of course, that is far from the truth. But unless and until the government and the media begin asking the tough questions and telling the people, we are left in the dark. And I think it is fair to assume that where government agencies are concerned they don’t ask and they don’t keep track because they don’t want to know the answer.

The Daily Herald recently ran a story about the Kids First free health care program. Their questions were forthright and valid. How many illegal alien children are being served by Kids First and how much is it costing us.

The only answer they received from the Governor's Office was “less than 4%” of the children and no one keeps track of the costs.

The Courier News ran a story on June 15th about medical costs. Again, it is vague. A hospital doesn’t try to find out who is here illegally. It isn’t their responsibility.

But due to Federal laws on the books (The EMTALA) our hospitals cannot refuse to treat anyone. Furthermore, case law dictates that they can’t just stop the bleeding and send them back out onto the street – They have to heal the patient before they release them.

Now, 45% of non-citizens do not have any form of health insurance coverage. Here’s the link to the US Census study on the uninsured: http://www.census.gov/prod/2007pubs/p60-233.pdf

In real life that means that they show up in the Emergency Room for treatment and might be admitted for a few days or weeks of care.

Some just declare themselves charity cases. Others agree to pay but after making efforts to collect the hospital just gives up and writes off the bad debt.

So, who pays? The hospital can either collect more from us or move out of the neighborhood in search of a richer clientele.

Here are some facts and figures from the Courier News article:
St. Joe’s in ONE YEAR (2007):
*About $3.3 million for free or reduced-cost care for about 1,200 uninsured patients.
*About $5 million toward the unpaid costs of Medicaid.
Sherman in 2007:
*About $1.87 million on "charity care," or health care services to persons classified by the hospital as being unable to pay
*Another $23.7 million on "bad debts"

Now if only someone in authority would do a survey to determine how these costs break down in terms of citizens, non-citizens, and illegal aliens. Don’t hold your breath.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Unity in the Community

A few AFLA folks spent the morning over at the library at the “Unity in the Community Forum” brought to you by the Elgin Human Relations Commission and Rainbow/PUSH.

There were a number of groups represented (about 20). Much of the morning was devoted to ice-breaker type group exercises designed to create a sense of team building.

The facilitator read some of the mission statements and I read part of a statement that describes AFLA’s position. My little speech was about five minutes but I only read some of it. See the blog entry below for the entire speech and the surprise ending.

Then people came around to our area and we got to share some of our information. I have a few booklets left so if anyone wants one send me your address. (afla.heaton@sbcglobal.net)

The reaction from these community organizations was interesting. I spoke with four African-American leaders who understand the impact of illegal aliens on their people. They realize the economists are right when they say that low-skilled illegal aliens in the work place drive down wages, benefits, and safety for the working poor.

They also understand that illegals are taking jobs from the unemployed in their neighborhoods.

Our illustrious state senator Mike Noland came up to me and told me that this was a good place for me to be so I can learn from these minority groups.

On woman puzzled me. She was from some Christian ministry. White. About 45 years old. She said, “What are you doing here?” When I asked her what she meant she said she was trying to figure out what our organization had to do with unity.

I explained that the high number of illegal aliens in our country (and in Elgin) are creating an atmosphere of discrimination against those who are here LEGALLY. Legal immigrants have every right to be treated with respect.

I also explained to her the impact of illegal aliens on the job market. I could tell she wasn’t convinced.

One of the SOAP members took a jab at us. He held up his little child and said his father was an immigrant and he resented his daughter being labeled as an "anchor baby." If this man is here legally and his wife is here legally, the child is NOT and "anchor baby." I didn't understand his point.

I have to say that the event organizers did not make any effort to exclude us or hush us up. They allowed us time to introduce our group and distribute our materials.

I want to thank the other AFLA supporters who attended along with me. It’s always good to have moral support.

Unity Forum Statement

AFLA – June 14, 2008 - Gail Borden Library
(I actually only had time to give about 30% of it)

We decry hostility and discrimination towards immigrants as antithetical to the traditions and interests of the country. At the same time, we disagree with those who would label efforts to control immigration as being inherently anti-immigrant. Rather, it is both a right and a responsibility of a democratic society to manage immigration so that it serves the national interest.

AFLA agrees that legal immigration presents many opportunities for this nation.
That is not to say that AFLA is unmindful of the problems that may also emanate from immigration. Too many have abused the very hospitality that we grant so freely.

Unlawful immigration is unacceptable. Enforcement measures have not sufficiently stemmed these movements. Failure to develop more effective strategies to curb unlawful immigration has blurred distinctions between legal and illegal immigrants.

AFLA is particularly concerned about the impact of immigration on the most disadvantaged within our already resident society--inner city youth, racial and ethnic minorities, and recent immigrants.

For AFLA, the principal issue at present is how to manage immigration so it continues to be in the national interest. Managing immigration presents a number of challenges:

How do we ensure that immigration is based on and supports broad U.S. economic, social, and humanitarian interests rather than the interests of those who would abuse our immigration laws?

How do we manage our borders while still encouraging international trade, investment, and tourism?

How do we maintain a civic culture based on shared values while accommodating the diverse population admitted through immigration policy?

It will be impossible to reach answers to these questions unless our policies and their implementation are more credible. As far as immigration policy is concerned, credibility can be measured by a simple yardstick: people who should get in, get in; people who should not enter are kept out; and people who are deportable should be required to leave.

As a nation of immigrants committed to the rule of law, this country must set limits on who can enter and back up these limits with effective enforcement of our immigration law.

Curbing unlawful immigration requires:
Better border management;
A more effective method of deterring the employment of unauthorized workers;
A willingness and ability to remove those who have no right to remain in the country, with particular focus on criminal aliens;
Better data for making and implementing policy.
No one approach will be sufficient to address unlawful migration.

Employment continues to be the principal magnet attracting illegal aliens to this country. As long as U.S. businesses benefit from the hiring of unauthorized workers, control of unlawful immigration will be impossible. AFLA believes that both employer sanctions and enhanced labor standards enforcement are essential components of a strategy to reduce the job magnet.

At the heart of many of the problems in current application of employer sanctions is the verification process used to determine work authorization. Widespread counterfeiting of documents that can be used for verification of identity and employment authorization has been reported. It is also relatively easy to obtain genuine documents, such as birth certificates or drivers licenses, by fraudulent means.

Moreover, confusion about the verification procedures and wariness about the validity of the documents has led to great potential for discrimination against foreign-looking and -sounding citizens and legal immigrants.

AFLA believes that the most promising option for more secure, nondiscriminatory verification is a computerized registry, using data provided by the Social Security Administration and Immigration.

This verification system will reduce any potential for discrimination. Employers would no longer have any reason to ask if a worker is a citizen or an immigrant--the only relevant question is: "What is your social security number?"

AFLA supports an increase in labor standards enforcement efforts in industries with large numbers of illegal aliens. Deterring unlawful immigration is a key ingredient in protecting U.S. workers. The presence of large numbers of unauthorized aliens in certain industries renders enforcement of labor standards, such as wage and hour and child labor provisions, all the more difficult because unauthorized workers are afraid to demand better working conditions or report infractions and businesses can bypass the hiring of workers who would be more cognizant of their rights.

An effective procedure for prompt and permanent removal of aliens ordered deported is an essential part of a credible deterrence policy. If people unauthorized to enter believe that they can remain indefinitely once having reached the interior of the nation, they may be more likely to come.

AFLA is concerned, however, about the ease with which deported criminal aliens can effect a reentry into the United States, particularly those who are returned to the Mexican border communities.

Now, the surprise. This statement was actually given by civil rights leader Barbara Jordan before a congressional committee in August of 1994. She was chairman of Bill Clinton's Immigration Reform Commission! How soon we lose sight of the problem. The only changes I made were to substitute AFLA for "The Commission."