Linda Sánchez Commends Obama for Keeping SCAAP in 2011 Budget (Feb. 1, 2010)

Washington, DC - Rep. Linda Sánchez (CA-39) commended President Barack Obama today for his inclusion of $330 million in funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), the federal program that reimburses states for the costs of incarcerating undocumented felons, in the FY 2011 Budget.

"I commend President Obama's plan to include SCAAP funding in the 2011 Budget," said Rep. Sánchez. "After years of working to maximize funding that both Presidents Bush and Obama zeroed out in the past, I am pleased to see President Obama responding to Congressional priorities. It is important that California taxpayers don't bear the entire burden of housing criminal aliens, when it should be the responsibility of the federal government."

SCAAP provides federal payments to states and localities to reimburse them for incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens with at least one felony or two misdemeanor convictions for violations of state or local law, and incarcerated for at least four consecutive days during the reporting period.

SCAAP was enacted in 1994, but funding was zeroed out under the Bush Administration. Rep. Linda Sánchez has worked tirelessly since then to ensure adequate funding for SCAAP, including legislation reversing a Bush Administration rule that limited reimbursement for post-conviction costs.

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