For immediate release: July 13, 2011

(WASHINGTON, DC) – The House Appropriations Committee is now working to save the State Criminal Aliens Assistance Program (SCAAP) from elimination as part of ongoing major federal budget cuts, thanks to an amendment offered by Congressman John Carter (R-TX).

Carter, a former Texas judge with personal experience on the high local cost of incarcerating illegal aliens, convinced Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf (R-VA) to work restore a minimum $136 million in funding to the program for FY2012.

Carter says that while the federal budget must be cut, eliminating SCAAP would effectively be an unfunded mandate on local and state courts and jails, to pay for the federal government’s failure to secure our borders.

“This program gives critical financial support to both states and localities that are forced to shoulder the burden of bringing undocumented criminal aliens to justice due to the federal government’s failure to secure our nation’s borders,” Carter told committee members. “My home of Williamson County, Texas estimates they spend about $1.8 million a year for costs associated with incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens.”

Carter noted that inmates include major violent criminals such as child rapists and murderers.

Carter says that even current SCAAP funds come nowhere near reimbursing state and local governments for the cost of jailing illegal criminal aliens.  “Our Texas counties have been left to cover over $94.4 million in direct costs, while Texas state government is covering another $259.9 million.”  All 50 states, the District of Columbia and 4 U.S. territories now receive SCAAP funding.

Carter offered then withdrew the amendment to restore the SCAAP program after Chairman Wolf agreed to restore the funding.