Virginia Studies Expose High Cost of Illegal Immigration and Widespread Voter Dissatisfaction

Virginia Studies Expose High Cost of Illegal Immigration and Widespread Voter
Dissatisfaction

Cost Study and Zogby Poll Offer Comprehensive Statewide Assessment

WASHINGTON, June 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Simultaneous studies, released
this week by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), document
the true costs of illegal immigration in Virginia and demonstrate strong voter
objections to the burdens placed on them by illegal immigration. A new Zogby
International poll of 606 likely voters across the state found that, by a
large margin, Virginians believe that illegal immigration is harming their
state. Their perceptions are rooted in reality. A separate FAIR study, the
Costs of Illegal Immigrationto Virginians found that providing education and
health care to illegal aliens and their families, and incarcerating criminal
illegal aliens, costs state taxpayers nearly $1.7 billion annually.

The Costs of Illegal Immigration to Virginians found that taxpayers spend:

-- $1.56 billion a year to educate illegal immigrant children and the
U.S.
born children of illegal immigrants.
-- $100 million a year on unreimbursed health care for illegal aliens.
-- $45 million a year to incarcerate criminal illegal aliens.

-- The total represents an annual cost to each of Virginia's
native-born headed households of $625.

The cost study is based on an estimate that the illegal alien population in
Virginia is now 295,000 persons. This represents 2.3 percent of the national
total illegal alien population, and it is the nation's 10th largest
concentration of illegal aliens. It is also about 3.8 percent of Virginia's
overall population.

The Zogby poll found that:

-- 56% of Virginia voters say illegal immigration has a negative impact
on
the state. Only 24% believe it has a positive impact on Virginia.
-- 78% of Virginia voters believe illegal aliens have a negative impact
on
the state budget, versus only 8% who believe their impact is positive.
-- 55% believe illegal immigration should be reduced through better
enforcement of immigration laws. Only 35% of Virginia voters favor
amnesty or legalization for current illegal aliens.

-- 66% of Virginia voters want worksite immigration enforcement to
continue. Only 20% support the Obama administration's decision to
curtail worksite enforcement.

"Voters in Virginia, like voters everywhere, want their elected officials in
Washington and Richmond to protect their interests, their jobs, and their tax
dollars from the impact of mass illegal immigration," said Dan Stein,
President of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). "At a time
when the Obama administration is intent on systematically dismantling
immigration enforcement, and congressional leaders are considering a new round
of amnesty legislation, voters in this key state are saying unequivocally that
it is time political leaders stopped pandering to the illegal immigration
lobby, and started enforcing laws that serve the interests of ordinary
Americans."

The Costs of Illegal Immigration to Virginians and a summary of the Zogby
International Polling results are available at www.fairus.org.

About FAIR

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With
over 250,000 members nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that
serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that
immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy,
protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is
recognized and enforced.

SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)

Jack Martin, +1-202-328-7004, or Ira Mehlman, +1-206-420-7733, both of FAIR