Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has launched a scathing attack on the Biden-Harris administration, labeling their border policies an “intentional failure” after a state report revealed the staggering costs of illegal immigration to Mississippi taxpayers.
According to a recent analysis by the Mississippi state auditor, the state is spending over $100 million annually on expenses related to illegal immigration. The report estimates that there are at least 22,000 undocumented immigrants in Mississippi, with costs breaking down as follows:
- Over $25 million for public education of children of undocumented immigrants
- $77 million for healthcare services
- $1.7 million for incarceration of undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes
Governor Reeves didn’t mince words in his criticism: “States are being forced to step up and pay for the Biden-Harris administration’s intentional failure to secure our border, and Mississippi is no exception,” he told Fox News Digital. He particularly singled out Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been tasked with addressing border issues, stating, “She’s been a disaster as border czar and is actually making the situation worse.”
State Auditor Shad White echoed the governor’s concerns, saying, “Mississippi’s illegal immigration problem is spiraling out of control and is costing taxpayers millions. Our public schools, hospitals, and prisons will continue to lose massive sums of money that we could have spent on our own citizens if this problem is not solved.”
The report acknowledges that due to limited data availability, the actual costs could be even higher. For instance, the Mississippi Department of Education is barred from collecting citizenship information, forcing analysts to rely on projections and estimates.
This issue has become a focal point as the United States approaches the November 2024 elections, with border security and immigration policy emerging as top priorities for voters. While Republicans blame the Biden administration’s policies for encouraging increased migration, the administration argues that it needs more funding and comprehensive reform to address the issue effectively.
Vice President Harris recently pledged to revive a bipartisan border security bill if elected president, stating at the Democratic National Convention, “We can live up to our proud heritage as a nation of immigrants and reform our broken immigration system.”
As the debate intensifies, Mississippi’s experience highlights the complex interplay between federal policies and state-level impacts, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform that addresses both security concerns and the economic realities faced by states across the nation.
