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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

No Agency Analysis Provided

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 84 requests the U.S. Congress to appropriate adequate funds to reimburse counties that share boundaries with Mexico for costs associated with federal immigration and drug laws and policies that result in those counties providing law enforcement, criminal justice and emergency medical services for undocumented aliens.

Significant Issues

The joint memorial indicates that approximately $108 million was spent in fiscal year 1999 by all twenty-four counties of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas that border Mexico for law enforcement, emergency services and criminal justice for illegal immigrants.

The memorial indicates that because New Mexico ranks 14^th among states in providing services to undocumented aliens, it does not qualify for federal reimbursement authorized under Section 4723 of the federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997. The federal government, according to the memorial, also has a threshold to what amount of narcotics is considered a federal crime, and traffickers will often carry an amount just below this threshold to avoid federal charges. This results in more costs to the state.

The joint memorial explains that there are some costs reimbursed to the counties; however, the burden on small, rural counties is greater than what is reimbursed. It indicates that as a direct result of the immigration and drug laws and policies of the United States government, New Mexico's border counties bear a huge financial burden, while lacking adequate resources to address this burden.

The memorial resolves that the U.S. Congress be requested to appropriate sufficient funding to reimburse the counties for these costs and requests the New Mexico Congressional Delegation to unite with delegations from other border states to pass legislation for the reimbursement.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There is no appropriation associated with this joint memorial. However, the memorial indicates that the New Mexico border counties incurred costs of $4,700.0 in 1999 for services related to undocumented aliens. If the U.S. Congress authorizes reimbursement pursuant to this memorial, there is possible federal revenue of $4,700.0 to the local and county governments of Dona Ana, Luna and Hidalgo counties.

MW/njw