Proposed federal legislation would set up a $28 million legal fund that northern border counties, such as Clallam and Jefferson, could draw upon to fund federal drug and immigration cases that are turned over to local authorities.
The Northern Border Prosecution Initiative is modeled after an existing program for counties along the Mexican border.
It would reimburse counties for the cost of investigating, prosecuting, and detaining suspects when the case is begun by federal law enforcement officers, then referred to counties for prosecution under state law.
“Local governments are bearing far too much of our border security burden,” said U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Mountlake Terrace, who had the $28 million program included in the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, Senate Bill 2611.
“We’re already helping our southern border communities with security costs,” she said.
“There’s no reason why our northern border communities should keep getting stuck with an unfair share of the bill.”
Clallam County Administrator Jim Jones said he lacks figures on how much the county spends on federal cases turned over for prosecution under state law.
Jefferson County officials did not return phone calls requesting information on Thursday.
Whatcom County officials told Cantwell — who in July was promoting the proposal along with U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Lake Stevens at a Bellingham press conference — that federal cases turned over to the county cost them more than $2.5 million in 2004.
Whatcom County officials also estimated the county prosecutes up to 90 percent of all drug cases initiated by federal law enforcement agencies.
The $28 million figure is included in the legislation, said Travis Lumpkin, legislative aide for Cantwell.
Once the program is established, then they will get a better idea of the expenses incurred by northern border counties and work to find an appropriate level of funding, he said.
Status of legislation
The measure was included in legislation passed by the Senate in May.
But whether it is included in any final legislation signed by the president is up to a conference committee that includes members of both the U.S. House of Representative and U.S. Senate.
Co-sponsors of Cantwell’s proposal include Sens. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Patty Murray D-Shoreline, Max Baucus D-Mont., and seven others.
