The Harris
County, Texas Commissioners Court is urging “national leaders” aka Congress to
enact a plan allowing people not lawfully present in the United States that
includes providing them with legal identification. On Tuesday July 30 a
resolution (see page 35) is on the court agenda that, if adopted, would amount to an
estimated loss of over $22 million dollars in Immigration Customs and Enforcement
(ICE) grants affecting over 94 FTE's (full-time equivalents) for the county.
“now therefore be it resolved…that Harris County Commissioners Court calls on national leaders to adopt legislation that comprehensively reforms immigration policy, including enactment of a plan that allows people without permanent legal immigration status, and who have demonstrated a desire to remain in the United States, to gain a status that permits them to remain in the United States, work and obtain legal identification…
Note also the resolution
acknowledges over 412,000 persons in the county are estimated to be not
lawfully present in Harris County.
So how much in
grant money would Harris County stand to lose should Commissioners Court adopt
this resolution?
An internal
memo obtained by County Examiner reveals an analysis of over $22 million in
grants funds affecting over 94 FTE (full-time equivalent Harris County
employees) are at risk. These funds, listed in the table below, affect the
budgets of the:
- Harris County District Attorney
- Harris County Juvenile Probation
- Harris County Constable Precincts 4, 5 and 7
- Harris County District Courts
- Harris County Judge
- Harris County Sheriffs Department
- Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
- Harris County Protective Service; Children and Adults
- Office of County Court Management
Read
the entire
memo here.
Harris County
Commissioners Court meets Tuesday July 30 at 10 a.m. at 1001 Preston Street,
Suite 394, Houston, TX 77002.
Better get
there early.
