Nothing To See Here...

Source: KVOA

Illegal immigrants cost Pima County taxpayers thousands daily

On average, more than 2,000 illegal immigrants are arrested in Southern Arizona every day, but tens of thousands have made it past the Border Patrol and those who stay here have a major impact on our economy.

On any given day, nearly 200 illegal immigrants sit behind bars at the Pima County Jail.

Lt. India Davis says, "They're here on a multiple multitude of charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies and their average stay is a little bit longer than average citizens."

The cost to house an illegal immigrant inmate is $56 per day, costing tax payers more than $11,000 daily.

At University Medical Center, illegal immigrants cost the hospital $6.9 million dollars for a period of six months.

I'm shocked! Shocked I say! And here these nice pro-illegal folks assured us there were no onerous costs associated with illegals, what happened?

Area business owners are also affected.

Todd McConnell, owner of McConnell Nursery & Landscaping, says, "I would hire them if they had papers to show that they're here legally and can work."

But many day laborers do not have legal documentation.

McConnell said, "There's a lot of Americans looking for jobs also and I think we have to have an orderly process. There has to be some restraints; it can't be an open flow across the border."

But on the flip side, the argument has been made that illegal immigrants do the jobs many Americans will not.

Juan Jose Zamora, an illegal immigrant stands on a corner in Midtown everyday, hoping for work. If someone picks him up he could make as much as $30 a day, nearly ten times what he would make in Mexico.

Zamora said, "Mexico and the United States are neighbors. The reason we come here is because we earn more than we do in Mexico."

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, illegal migrants have little trouble finding jobs that pay minimum wage. For Zamora, that's more than enough.

Though Zamora knows he's an illegal immigrant, he says being in the U.S. is a matter of survival.

"We don't want people to think that we're delinquents, because we're not. We're hard workers and we know how to work," Zamora says.

I don't doubt that's true of Mr. Zamora, but who are these hundreds of illegals who are filling our jails and prisons across this land? The bottom line is just this, when the flood pours in it will cause damage. Anyone with a lick of sense knows this, but we've gotten used to our low wage slaves.

I just want to give this business owner a sloppy kiss and a medal. Jobs for citizens? This is all new, I need to sit down, I feel a little dizzy.

Technorati Tags: illegal immigrations costs, we need a fence, arizona