"Advocating for Increased Federal Funding to Detain Criminal Aliens: A Call to Action by Long Island Lawmakers"

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"Advocating for Increased Federal Funding to Detain Criminal Aliens: A Call to Action by Long Island Lawmakers"

[!CDATA[Two Long Island lawmakers are urging Congress to increase federal funding for states and localities detaining illegal immigrants convicted of crimes. Representatives Laura Gillen and Andrew Garbarino emphasized the decline in funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) over the past two decades, from $565 million in 2002 to $234 million in the previous year. They highlighted the financial strain on local jurisdictions and called for additional support to cover the costs of incarcerating criminal aliens. Gillen and Garbarino addressed a letter to House appropriators, stressing the importance of reimbursing counties and local governments for holding convicted undocumented immigrants. They emphasized that enforcing immigration laws is a federal responsibility and expressed concerns about the rising costs borne by communities due to border security issues. The SCAAP program, with an authorized budget of up to $950 million, provides financial assistance to cover expenses related to incarcerating non-citizens convicted of crimes. According to US Customs and Border Protection data, over 5,000 criminal aliens have been arrested in the current fiscal year. The NYPD has incurred significant expenses related to the migrant crisis in New York City, including safety and security costs amounting to $21 million. Gillen's district in Nassau County and Garbarino's district covering Nassau and Suffolk counties have received funding from the SCAAP program, but the amounts have been decreasing in recent years, indicating a concerning trend. Despite the Biden administration's attempt to terminate the program in the fiscal year 2025 budget request, the House Appropriations Committee, led by the GOP, has recognized the program as a valuable tool for immigration enforcement. Gillen and Garbarino emphasized the importance of additional resources for local jurisdictions to effectively manage the costs associated with detaining criminal aliens. They urged appropriators to consider the financial challenges faced by communities and the need for increased federal support. In conclusion, Representatives Gillen and Garbarino are advocating for Congress to boost funding for the SCAAP program to alleviate the financial burden on local jurisdictions detaining illegal immigrants convicted of crimes. They underscore the critical role of federal support in enforcing immigration laws and emphasize the need for additional resources to address the rising costs faced by communities across the country.]]