Long Island Lawmakers Urge Increased Funding for Immigrant Detention

In Washington, two Long Island lawmakers are advocating for Congress to enhance federal funding directed at state and local efforts to detain illegal immigrants who have committed crimes. They expressed concern that, over the last two decades, hundreds of millions have been cut from a Department of Justice program aimed at supporting these initiatives.

Representative Laura Gillen (D-NY) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) recently addressed the House Budget Committee, pointing out that funding for this program plummeted from $565 million in 2002 to merely $234 million last year.

“It’s unfair for Long Island taxpayers to shoulder the burden due to the federal government’s failure to enforce border security and the lenient sanctuary policies in New York City,” Gillen remarked.

She emphasized that enhancing support for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) would alleviate some financial strain on local governments like Nassau County, which needs to hold convicted criminals who legally shouldn’t be in the country.

In their letter, Gillen and Garbarino urged Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) and Grace Meng (D-NY), key members of the House Budget Subcommittee, to consider their request as a vital step toward reimbursing local jurisdictions.

They stressed that it is fundamentally the federal government’s duty to uphold immigration laws. Notably, the lack of effective border control has transferred the financial burden to numerous communities, creating added challenges.

The SCAAP program, with a maximum expenditure allowed of $950 million, provides financial assistance to local governments burdened with the costs of detaining non-citizens who face felony charges or multiple misdemeanors. This funding helps cover costs such as corrections officer salaries.

This fiscal year alone, over 5,000 criminal non-citizens have been apprehended in the U.S., according to statistics from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Garbarino pointed out, “We continue to grapple with the failure to secure our borders, and as a result, communities bear more financial responsibilities.”

Data shows that the NYPD has allocated up to $21 million to address safety and security issues arising from the city’s immigration situation, not to mention the billions spent on housing, food, and health services.

Gillen’s district, which includes parts of Nassau County, secured over $2.3 million from this program in 2024, while Garbarino’s district, covering both Nassau and Suffolk counties, received $1.2 million. In 2023, Nassau obtained $3.6 million, and Suffolk got $1.3 million, highlighting a concerning downward trend.

The Biden administration had aimed to phase out the program in its 2025 budget proposal. However, following the lawmakers’ appeal, the GOP-led House Appropriations Committee recognized it as a “valuable asset” for immigration enforcement.

They stated, “Without these additional resources, things could worsen.”

This post has reached out to representatives of Rogers and Meng for further comments.