Contact: Tony Bell, Communications Deputy
Office: (213) 974-5555  Cell: (213) 215-5176
E-mail: tbell@bos.lacounty.gov

October 26, 2012                                                                                                                 

For Immediate Release

PROJECTED ANNUAL WELFARE COSTS FOR CHILDREN OF ILLEGAL ALIENS TO EXCEED $635 MILLION 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY—With an additional $52 million in welfare payments issued in August to illegal alien parents for their native-born children, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services projects that in 2012 more than $635 million in welfare benefits will be distributed to illegal alien parents, announced Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

The more than $52 million consist of nearly $20 million in CalWORKs (welfare) and $33 million in food stamps — representing 22% of all CalWORKs and food stamp issuances in the County.  At this rate, the projected annual cost is approximately $635 million. 

“When you add the $550 million for public safety and nearly $500 million for healthcare, the total cost for illegal immigrants to County taxpayers exceeds $1.6 billion dollars a year,” said Antonovich.  “These costs do not even include the hundreds of millions of dollars spent annually for education.”

 Figures from the Los Angeles County Department-August 2012

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