[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 88 (Friday, June 12, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H6621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          FUNDING FOR STATE CRIMINAL ALIEN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

  (Mr. MITCHELL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to protest the 25 percent cut 
proposed this week to the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, 
otherwise known as SCAAP. SCAAP reimburses States and localities for 
the arrest, incarceration and transportation of undocumented immigrants 
who commit crimes in our communities. When State and local governments 
are forced to step in and do the Federal Government's job, it is only 
fair that they be reimbursed.
  Last year, the Arizona Department of Corrections received $12.8 
million from the Federal Government to house up to 5,600 criminal 
illegal immigrants in State prisons, only 10 percent of what Arizona 
spent to house illegal inmates that year. This cut is wrong, and as 
this legislation moves to the floor next week, I urge my colleagues to 
help me fight this cut.
  If we are serious about immigration enforcement, we must restore 
SCAAP funding and reimburse Arizona for keeping criminal alien 
immigrants behind bars.

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