Illegals: Bush, NYT Can't Count The Cost

The NY Times would have us believe it's simply too expensive to deport the 304,000 illegal immigrants languishing in US prisons, where they make up 10 percent of the population. And the Bush Admin. apparently agrees.

At least 304,000 immigrant criminals eligible for deportation are behind bars nationwide, a top federal immigration official said Thursday.

That is the first official estimate of the total number of such convicts in federal, state and local prisons and jails.

The head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Julie L. Myers, said the annual number of deportable immigrant inmates was expected to vary from 300,000 to 455,000, or 10 percent of the overall inmate population, for the next few years.

Ms. Myers estimated that it would cost at least $2 billion a year to find all those immigrants and deport them.

The statement stands as is in the article with the illegals-friendly NYT failing to consider -- or at least report -- the telling follow-up question: Well, how much does it cost to keep them?

The most recent Dept. of Justice figures I could find say it cost $25,327 annually to house an inmate in 2003. The cost has certainly gone up since then, but I'll give the NYT and the administration the benefit of the low number.

So, using 2003 figures, it costs $7.7 billion a year to house our 304,000 illegal immigrant prisoners, vs. $2 billion a year to find and deport them.

Anyone for saving $5.7 billion a year? Is Julie Myers a complete dunce? She should be the champion of deportation.

I won't even bother asking why the Bush Administration isn't working to reduce the costs of government by taking the simple step of deporting illegals. Bush has completely forgotten that Republicans are for small, efficient government.

And is anyone for wondering why the high-priced, Ivy League journalists at the NYT can't comprehend the basics of good reporting?