Quote:
Originally Posted by wdmso
What is the cost to state and local law enforcement agencies?
o The total cost of immigration detainers in the United States is unknown because they vary
considerably across jurisdiction. However, the cost of compliance can be quite high. The
state of California, for example, spends approximately $65 million tax dollars each year
detaining individuals for ICE.
• Does the federal government reimburse state and local governments for the cost
of holding someone under an ICE detainer?
o No, ICE does not reimburse the cost of holding individuals under a detainer. (Renting jail
space to ICE is not the same as detaining someone on an ICE detainer.) Additionally, ICE
is not liable and will not indemnify localities for any liability incurred while housing
these detainees. Several counties have faced legal action as a result of rights violations
that occurred while detaining individuals for ICE. The Sheriff’s Office in Jefferson
County, Colorado recently paid a $40,000 settlement to a man who was wrongfully
imprisoned due to an ICE detainer.
• Are state and local law enforcement agencies required to participate?
o No, ICE detainers are not criminal warrants; they are merely voluntary requests. Law
enforcement agencies can choose whether to comply.
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It's a way of cost sharing for a common goal. If the Federal Government did not share the cost, even most of it, of catching and deporting illegal aliens, the states would have to take on the full cost. If some states are not willing to share the cost, and if they were not willing to take on any cost at all, then it could be assumed that they are not concerned about illegal aliens, even large numbers of them, in their community. I assume creating a sanctuary city is a statement of exactly that. So those states should not be averse to accepting large numbers of aliens since they're not willing to participate in catching, holding, and deporting illegal aliens. States which are willing to cooperate and share the cost with the Federal government, or take on the full job and cost on their own, deserve not to have a bunch of illegals dumped into their community, especially when the lack of cooperation by the others helps to create a draw for aliens to illegally cross the border.