Posted by
Silvio Canto, Jr. on Monday, July 17, 2006 7:03:12 AM
On another front, states and cities are starting to act on immigration. Conor Friedersdorf writes about immigration issues. You can check his blog (www.beyondbordersblog.com):
"At least 30 states have passed in excess of 57 laws, according to a USA Today analysis" (http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_4039405)
Colorado just passed a new law requiring legal residency for state benefits.
Why is this happening? The answer is that local governments are stuck with the cost of schools, health care and crime.
At the national level, immigration is about controlling the border. At city hall, or county level, it is a question of costs.
For example, check this:
"Dallas County is planning to bill Mexico and other countries for treating their indigent citizens at Parkland Memorial Hospital, a practice that county leaders say is becoming a drain on their resources. County Judge Margaret Keliher said she doesn't expect the foreign countries to pay up, just as she doesn't expect neighboring counties to pay for treating their indigent residents.
But that's not the point, she said.
"If you're not Dallas County residents, then we think that where you're from should pay for indigent health care," she said."(http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-parkland_22met.ART0.West.Edition1.21f4982.html)
Will it work? Probably not. Yet, the point is made. US cities can not continue to provide these services for illegal immigrants.