One of the bills passed in the special session in Colorado a few weeks ago, House Bill 1014, calls for the attorney general to try to obtain reimbursement for state expenses related to illegal immigration from the federal Government. Washington and Arizona have made similar efforts. It doesn’t work.
While the requests for full reimbursement apparently have been ignored, Congress did increase funding for SCAAP last year after receiving a joint letter from 14 governors – including Gregoire, Napolitano, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
SCAAP is the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which provides states with a small share of the cost of incaracerating illegal immigrants.
