Anxiety On Costs Of Illegal Residents

"This is a very complex request covering several agencies," said county spokeswoman Liz Bahrns, adding that agencies have been given two weeks to respond. "Given the scope of this task, we would expect it to take every bit of the two weeks to pull the figures together . . . or perhaps longer. We will, however, have a response . . . by Jan. 16."

Covington, who does not have an estimate for what he thinks illegal immigration is costing the county, said he is serious about asking the federal government to reimburse the county. But he said he is realistic enough to know that the county will probably never get a penny.

"I really think they should pay, but it is more symbolic," he said.

He said his constituents are angry because they are worried about possible cuts in county services or tax increases, based on falling revenue from the slower housing market. Residents have told Covington they are concerned that their taxes are paying for the education and health care of illegal workers who pay no taxes.

"You know, as far as educating the children of illegal immigrants, they are paying the full burden of that," Covington said. "It really boils down to an accountability issue. I don't think people inherently want to hurt other people. They don't mind helping other people, but they want to know what the cost is and want to know that a set of rules apply to everyone and not just some people."

Michele Waslin, director of immigration policy research for the National Council of La Raza, the country's oldest and largest Hispanic civil rights organization, said she welcomed the attempt by Prince William to study the issue -- "assuming that it is based on sound methodology and it is unbiased."

Waslin cited a study released by the comptroller of Texas this month that reported that illegal immigrants had a positive financial impact on the state treasury but that they were costing counties hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

"The study showed that the tax money was going to the state and the counties were not getting any of those tax revenues," she said. "So the counties end up footing the cost."