Perry bills feds $349M for illegal immigrants

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PERRY_IMMIGRATION_COSTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-08-27-10-40-41

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry has asked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for nearly $350 million to cover the costs he says Texas has incurred incarcerating illegal immigrants in state prisons and county jails.

In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Perry reiterated a claim he's often leveled against the federal government: that it's not doing enough to secure the border with Mexico and as a result, has allowed illegal immigrants to enter the U.S. and use taxpayer-funded resources, including the prison system.

The letter was dated Aug. 10, three days before the Republican governor formally announced he is running for president.

Reached after-hours Friday by phone, DHS spokesman Matthew Chandler said he wasn't in position to comment and said he could not confirm that the DHS had even received the letter.

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1. 1. is there any legal basis for it

2. Using the Prisons? :rofl: What a benefit.
3. they don't have to imprison them if they don't want to.