The High Cost of Immigration Enforcement

7/28/2019 The High Cost of Immigration Enforcement

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ChrisStiffler

3/26/13

THEHIGHCOSTOF

IMMIGRATIONENFORCEMENTINCOLORADO

SocialandEconomicConsequencesofArticle29ofTitle29

oftheColoradoRevisedStatutes(SB90)


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THEHIGHCOSTOFIMMIGRATIONENFORCEMENT

INCOLORADO

SocialandEconomicConsequencesofArticle29ofTitle29ofthe

ColoradoRevisedStatutes(SB90)

Introduction

Imaginethatonyourwaytoworktomorrow,youarearrestedbylawenforcementanddetainedby

UnitesStatesImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement(ICE).Youdontknowhowmanydaysthe

detentionwilllast.Whathappensatyourjob?Whowatchesyourchildren?Howdoyouputadollar

figureonthetimemissedfromworkorthetimeawayfromyourfamily?

ThousandsofColoradoimmigrantseachyearfacetheseuncertaintiesastheresultofaColoradolaw,

knownasSB90,whichrequireslocalpeaceofficersandagenciestoreportanyonearrestedforacriminaloffense,whotheyreasonablybelievetobeundocumented,toICE

BackgroundonArticle29ofTitle29oftheColoradoRevisedStatutes

Widelyviewedasaprecursortootheraggressivestateimmigrationenforcementmeasuressuchas

thewell-publicizedSB-1070inArizona,Article29ofTitle29oftheColoradoRevisedStatues(SB90),i

statesthatanytimealawenforcementofficialhasprobablecauseorreasonablebeliefthataperson

suspectedofcommittingacrimeisinthecountryunlawfullytheymustnotifyICE.Thelawalso

prohibitslocalgovernmentsfromadoptingordinancesorpoliciesthatlimittheagencys

participationinimmigrationenforcementandgivesthestatedepartmentoflocalaffairstheabilityto

withholdfinancialassistancegrantstoanyjurisdictionconsideredtobeoutofcompliance.Sinceits

passagein2006,atotalof145,183ColoradoimmigrantshavebeenreportedtoICEthroughrequirementsunderthislaw.

Onceasuspectisreported,ICEcanissueadetainerorhold

requestfortheperson.Adetainerinthiscontextisnota

mandatoryjudicialhold,butratheranon-bindingrequest,issued

byanadministrativeofficerofICE.iiThelocaljailmaythenelect

toholdthepersonnamedinthedetainerforupto48hoursto

allowICEtotakehimorherintocustody.PersonsreleasedtoICE

aregenerallyheldatalocalholdingfacilitytoawaitfederal

immigrationproceedingsandusuallyendupbeingtransferredto

theGEOdetentionfacilityinAurora,Colorado.

Inanearlierreport,CFIfoundthatasaresultofthis2006law,

thousandsofimmigrantswerebeingarrested,heldanddetained

incountyjailsforlongperiodsoftimeforlow-leveloffenses,

costingColoradotaxpayersandcommunitiesmillionsofdollars

eachyearinjailanddetentionexpenses.ThisdespiteICEsstated

intenttoprioritizedetentionandremovalofviolentoffenders

Thecostsoflocal

immigrationenforcement,

however,gowellbeyondthe

policeworkhours,

administrativebookingfees,

andincarcerationcosts.

Whenwedetainimmigrants

forlow-leveloffensesthattypicallywouldnotresultin

anyjailtime,weremovean

employeefromanemployer,

aparentandcaregiverfrom

achild,andataxpayerand

consumerfromthe

community.


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whoposethegreatestdangertonationalsecurityandcommunitysafety.iii

Inthatreport,westoppedshortofestimatingbeyondthestrictbudgetaryandfiscalcosts.Thecosts

oflocalimmigrationenforcement,however,gowellbeyondthepoliceworkhours,administrative

bookingfees,andincarcerationcosts.Whenwedetainimmigrantsforlow-leveloffensesthat

typicallywouldnotresultinanyjailtime,weremoveanemployeefromanemployer,aparentand

caregiverfromachild,andataxpayerandconsumerfromthecommunity.Whenpeoplearedetained,

theymissworkduringthedaysincarcerated(misseddaysworked)andalsofaceindirect

consequences(e.g.,losingtheirjobbecauseofthemissedweekofwork).Fewerhoursworked

ultimatelymeanslessmoneybeingspentintheColoradoeconomyaswellaslesstaxrevenuebeing

generatedforbasicpublicservices.Inadditiontothedirectcostsaccruingtothestate,therearealso

thepersonalcoststhateachindividualdetaineemustcontendwith.

ThankstorecentrespondentdatacollectedbytheCampaigntoUniteColorado,wearenowinthe

positiontopinpointthesebroadereconomicandsocialconsequencesoflocalimmigration

enforcementinColorado.FromSeptember15thtoDecember15thof2012,theCampaigntoUnite

ColoradoranSpanishlanguageadsonEntravisionRadiostationsthroughoutthestatepublicizinga

statewidehotlineaimedatcollectingstoriesofabusebetweenpublicsafetyofficialsandICE.Thepurposeofthehotlinewastodocumenttheharmfulimpactsthatlocalpolicecollaborationwith

immigrationofficialshaveoncommunitytrustandcommunitypolicingeffortsinthestate.

Thedatasetcollectedthroughthehotlineincludesvital

informationaboutimmigrantswhohavebeendetained,

includingstatisticsregardingtheirage,occupation,

whethertaxesarewithheldfrompaychecks,marital

status,children,daysspentindetention,and

consequencesofmissingwork.Fromthissample,of

hotlinecallerswithICEnotifications,weareableto

calculateaper-dayeconomiccostbytabulatingthelost

wages,lostjobs,andchangingworkhabits.Withaccesstoanewandrobustsetofdatapoints,CFIcannow

quantifyboththedirectandindirecteconomic

consequencesofSB90.

Weareindebtedtotheemployees,volunteers,andcommunitieswhoarepartoftheCampaignto

UniteColoradoforhelpingtogatherthepersonalstoriesandinformationwithoutwhichthisreport

wouldnotbepossible.Wearealsoextremelygratefultotheimmigrantcommunityforsharingtheir

experiencesthatprovideuswiththerobustdatatodetailthebroaderconsequencesoflocal

immigrationenforcement.Thesepersonalstorieshelpillustratethedynamicsatplaywhen

ColoradosSB90forceslawenforcementofficialsoutoftheroleoflocalpeacekeeperandintothe

roleofICEagent.

Detainingpeopleforlow-

levelinfractionswhileICE

checksimmigrationstatus,

putsboththeindividualand

policeonhold.


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Firedforspeeding

Whathappened:Juanisa26-year-olddrywall/framingworkerwhoismarriedwithtwo

children.Juan,whohasbeenintheU.S.for8years,waspulledoverforspeedingandaccusedofhavingfalseidentificationwhenheusedavalidMexicanConsularcardtoidentifyhimself.

Hewasinitiallychargedwithspeeding,attempttoinfluenceapublicservant,criminal

possessionofaforgedinstrument,falsereporting,andunlawfulacts.Onlythespeeding

chargewasultimatelypursuedafteritwasdeterminedhisConsularcardwaslegitimate.At

thetimeofbooking,Juanwastoldbyjailofficialsthathedidnothavetherighttopostbond

becauseoftheICEhold,aclearviolationofhisrights.Hewasdetainedfor22dayswhilehe

awaitedhiscourtdatetodefendhimself.Athiscourthearing,hepledguiltytospeedingand

thejudgedismissedallothercharges.

Timespentdetained:22days

Humanconsequences:Missed16daysofworkandwasfiredfromhisjobasanindirect

consequencefromtheencounterwithpolice.Spent22daysawayfromhisfamilyanda

monthlookingforanewjob.

Coststhatcouldhavebeenavoided:Iftheofficerhadissuedacitationratherthanarresting

Juan,theentireincidentwouldhavebeennomorethana15minutesspeedingticket.


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CalculatingtheSocialandEconomicCosts

Inadditiontothedirectcostsofhousinganimmigrantinacountyjail,theopportunitycosttothe

statecanbecalculatedaddingupthelostwagesandlosttaxrevenuethatwouldhavebeengenerated

ifthoseimmigrantswerenotdetainedandwereinstead,abletocontinueworking.

Accordingtothedataset,85percentofthosedetainedonanICEnotificationmissedatleastoneday

ofwork.Wecalculatedthat$91.75onaverageislostinwageseachdaythatanindividualisheldin

ColoradofacilitiesonanICEnotification.Withover24,200ICEnotificationsivayearinColorado

averaging4.2daysinjail,thismeansthat$9.5millionislostinspendingfromtheColoradoeconomy

and$855,000inlosttaxrevenueduetothelostemploymentthatresultsdirectlyfromthetimespent

holdingColoradoimmigrantsoftentimesforlow-

levelinfractionsforICE.

DetentionsresultingfromICEholdrequestsalso

leadtopermanentreductioninhoursandjobloses.

Inoursample,28percentofimmigrantswithanICE

holdlosttheirjobasaconsequenceofthedetention.

Eveniftheindividualdidnotlosehis/herjob,

he/shefacednegativefutureconsequencesatwork,

suchasmissedopportunitiesforadvancementor

reducedhours.Forexample,onefrontrange

residentreportedthathenowturnsdown

landscapingprojectsbecauseheisafraidofdriving

longdistancesasaresultofhisinteractionwithlaw

enforcement.Inanothercase,amanwasarrested

forfailuretoappearincourtforatrafficviolation

andplacedintodeportationproceedings.HewaseventuallyplacedontheIntensiveSupervision

AppearanceProgram(ISAP)thatrequireshimtoreporttoICEatdeterminedtimeseveryweek.Thistimecommitmenthascausedhimtolosetwodaysofworkaweek,whichmeanslostspendingand

taxrevenueforthestate.

Ifweaveragethelostwages,lostjobs,andlosttaxrevenueduetoICEholds,wefindthatanICE

notificationcostseachindividualanaverageof$1,300.Thisisduetothewageslostduringthe

detention,thehoursreducedandjoblossesthatoccurasaconsequenceofthedetention,andthe

familymemberslosthoursastheyassisttheindividualatpolicestationsandthroughlitigation.

Giventheestimated24,200individualsreportedtoICEeachyear,ashocking$31millionofspending

inthestateeconomyislostperyearasaconsequenceofColoradoholdingpeopleinlocaljailsfor

ICE.The$31millionlostspendingtranslatesintopotentially$2.7millioninlosttaxrevenue.

EachyearColoradoloses$9.5

millioninlosteconomic

spendingand$855,000inlost

taxrevenueasadirectresultof

detainingColoradoimmigrants

forICEbypullingimmigrants

awayfromsociety.Thisison

topofthemillionsitcoststo

detaintheimmigrants.


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DreamonHold

Whathappened:19-year-oldLuisisaColoradorecenthighschoolgraduatewhocametotheU.S.whenhewas3.Heworksasacook.LuisiseligibleforimmigrationreliefunderthefederalDeferredActionforChildhoodArrivals(DACA)program,afederalprogramgranting

lawfulpresencetocertainindividualswhowerebroughttotheU.S.aschildren.LuisappliedandhadsubmittedhisfingerprintsforhisDACAapplicationwhenhewasarrestedforspeedingandaccusedofpossessingafraudulentpassport.ICEwasnotifiedandtoldthelocalagencythattheywantedthemLuisheldsohecouldbeinterviewedinthemorning.Luisspent18hoursinjailandmissedadayofworkasaresult,allforacrimehedidnotcommit

Timespentdetained:1day

Humanconsequences:Missedadayofworkontopofhislosttrustintheauthoritiesbecause

hefeltcriminalizedforbeingwhoheis.Luisexpressedhowthisexperiencemakeshimfeel

asiflawenforcementisbiased.

Coststhatcouldhavebeenavoided:BecauseLuisisDACA-eligible,thefederalgovernment

shouldhavenointerestinseekingtoremovehim.However,asaresultofSB90,Coloradolaw

enforcementreportedhimtoICEandheldhimtofacilitateatransfertoICE.Luisarrest

couldandshouldhavebeenavoided.Allofthechargesforthefalsepassportweredropped.


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SummaryoftheICEnotificationdataset

LawEnforcementStatistics

o 75percentofthesamplewasreportedtoICEfollowingadrivingrelatedincident.Themostcommonincidentswereforspeeding,failuretouseturnsignal,broken

taillights,andnothavingavalidColoradodriverslicense.o Morethanhalfofthesamplewasnotgiventheoptiontopaybondorweredenied

therighttopaybond.Ofthedetaineeswhoweregiventheoptiontopaybond,manydidnotbecauseofconfusionovertheICEhold;afewweretoldthatpayingbondwouldbeawasteofmoneygiventheICEhold.

o Averagedaysdetainedfromanotification4.29PersonalStatistics

o AverageAge:33o 64percentofsamplewasmaleo AllofthesampleisLatinoo AverageyearslivingintheUnitedStatesofAmerica:13o 18ofthe25havechildren,allofwhomhavemorethan1child.Sevenofthe18

individualswithchildrenhad4kids.

WorkRelatedStatistics

o 22ofthe25hadjobsatthetimeofarresto 7ofthe25losttheirjobasaresultoftheirdetention.If28percentofallICE

notificationsperyearresultinjobloss,morethan6,776individualslosetheirjobas

aresultofanICEnotificationeachyearinColorado.

o Onaverage,thesampleworked30hoursperweeko Averagehourlywage:$12.81o Averagewageslostperdaydetained:$91.75o Onaverage,anICEnotificationdirectlycoststheindividualdetainee$393inlost

wages.

o Occupationsincludedconstructionworkers,janitors,housekeepers,dry-wallinstallationworkers,cooks,waitresses,bussers,landscapers,windowcleaners,welders,mechanics,andpainters.


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LostWeekendforLegalPermanentResident

Whathappened:Moisesisa36-year-oldlegalpermanentresident(LPR)whohaslivedinthe

U.S.for31years.Heissingleandworksasawelder.Moiseswaspulledoverforhaving

expiredplateswhenthepolicediscoveredhehadawarrantforafailuretoappearcharge.

MoiseswasarrestedandhadanICEholdplacedonhimdespitehisLPRstatus.HewasdetainedonaSaturdayandheldforadaybeforehewasgiventherighttopayhisbond,

whichhewasfinallyabletopayat2pmSunday.However,becauseoftheICEholdhewasnot

releaseduntil8:45pmonMonday.ThiscausedMoisestomissadayofworkathiswelding

job.Intheend,hewasnotwantedbyICEandhewasreleased.Hisfinalchargeswere

failuretoappearincourt.


Humanconsequences:Lostanentiredayofworkevenafterhehadpaidthebond.

Coststhatcouldhavebeenavoided:BecauseoftheICEnotificationandbondingprocess,

Moisesspentanextranightinjailmakinghimmissworkthenextdayevenafterhepaidbail.


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SB90ErodesTrustandChangesCommunityInteraction

Incidentsinthe25hotlinecasesillustratehowundocumentedimmigrantspullawayfromthe

communityandavoidinteractionswithlawenforcementauthorities,becauseofthefearof

immigrationconsequences.OnefatherwasdetainedandgivenanICEholdforanoutstanding

warrantforfailuretoappearincourtforatrafficcitationwhenheidentifiedhimselfatanimpound

yard.Hewastherehelpinghisdaughterretrievehercar.Hehadnotgonetohishearingbecauseat

thetimetherewererumorsthatICEwasdetainingpeoplewhentheywenttocourtfortraffic

infractions.

Anothermanwasdetainedwhenhewastalkingtothepoliceaboutafriendsexpiredlicenseplates.

Themanwasaskedtoidentifyhimself,andtheofficerdiscoveredthattherewasawarrantoutfor

failuretoappearincourtforaprevioustrafficcitation.HewastransferredtoICEafterspending2

daysinjail.Again,hedidnotattendcourtforfearofbeingdetainedbyICE.Thisincidenthighlights

whyimmigrantsarereluctanttospeakwithpoliceevenaboutthingsthatdontpersonallyinvolve

them.

WhenICEplacesholdsonindividualsarrestedforlow-leveloffenses,resultingininitiationof

deportationproceedings,itistheimmigrantcommunity,trustinlocallawenforcementand

ultimatelycommunitysafetythatpaystheprice.Communitymembershearaboutthisandbecome

muchmorereluctanttointeractwithpoliceinthefuture.Thelosttrustbetweenthecommunityand

lawenforcementmakesthejoboflocalpolicetoserveascommunitypeacekeepersexceedingly

moredifficult.

ThehotlinedatasetprovidesinformationthatindicateshowimmigrantsdetainedforICEwill

interactwithlawenforcementinthefuture.Sixtypercentofthesampleindicatedthattheyare

muchlessinclinedtoreportacrimebecauseoftheirICEholdandinteractionwithpolice.Ninety

percentofthesampleindicatedthattheywerenoweithermuchlesslikelyorlesslikelyto

provideinformationtopoliceasawitness.

Thedatashowsthatthetwobiggestfactorsthatmakeanindividuallesslikelytointeractwithor

reportcrimestopoliceinthefuturearehavingafamilyandlosingajobasaresultofanICEhold.v

ImmigrantswithfamiliesreportedthattheICEholdmadethemmuchlesslikelytobeawitnessin

thefuture.Thisisexpectedbecausehavingafamilyraisesthestakesandleveloffearthatadeported

individualwillbeseparated,perhapspermanently,fromtheirfamily.Thedataalsorevealedastrong

correlationwiththosewholosttheirjobsasaresultofthedetentionandreportingmuchlesslikely

toprovideinformationtopoliceasawitnessinthefuture.

Immigrantswho were detainedand later releasedwith no charges indicated that theywould be

muchlesslikelytoprovideinformationtopoliceasawitnessinthefuturecomparedtotheoneswho

weredetainedandlaterchargedwithan offense.This revealsthatimmigrantsarenotnecessarily

becominglesscooperativewithpolicebecauseofcriminalchargesbutbecauseofthenegativeeffectsofimmigrationdetentionandICEholds.


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LostID=LostTime

Whathappened:19-year-oldHugohaslivedintheU.S.for11years.Heworksasapainter

inColorado.Hugowaspulledoverbypoliceforaninadequateheadlightonhisvehicle.He

wasarrestedwhenhecouldnotprovideadriverslicense.Later,thestatepatrol

discoveredofthathehadawarrantoutforhisarrestinanothercountyfortrespassingandtheft,crimeshehadnotcommitted.HugohadlosthisIDataconcert,policefoundthisID

atthesceneofacrimeandissuedawarrantforhisarrest.Hugohadbeenpulledoverby

police3timesbefore.Inall3instances,hewasissuedaticketbutnodetention.During

thisincidence,Hugospent12daysdetained.Heattemptedtopayhisbondbutwastoldhe

couldnotbecausehehadanICEhold. Hugospent12daysinalocaljailbeforebeing

transferredtotheothercountyforhiscourtdateonthetrespassingandtheftcharges.At

hiscourthearing,Hugowasabletoprovehisinnocenceandallchargesweredismissed.

HewasnottransferredtoICEasheiseligibleforimmigrationreliefunderDeferredAction

forChildhoodArrivals.Hewasultimatelyreleasedandchargesweredropped.


Humanconsequences:Missedthelastfewdaysofapaintingcontract.Laterleftthatjobas

theworkstartedtodryup.

Coststhatcouldhavebeenavoided:Bylaw,Hugoshouldhavebeengiventherighttopay

bond.DespitehiseligibilityforDACA,ICEplacedaholdonHugoandthejailviolatedhis

rightsbynotgivinghimtheoptiontopaybond.TheCountywasforcedtojailHugofor12

daysasheawaitedhiscourtdatetoprovehisinnocence


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DetaintheVictim

Whathappened:Sandraisa38-year-oldfemalewhoismarriedwithtwochildren.Shes

beenintheU.S.for14yearsandworksasahousekeeper.ShehasanITINnumber,which

enableshertopaytaxes.Sandrawasinterrogatedbythelocalsheriffsdeputiesbecauseofanargumentshewashavingwithherhusband.Whenthesheriffsarrived,sheadmittedto

breakingaflowerpot,givingthepolicereasonstoarrestherfordomesticviolenceand

criminalmischief,despitethefactthatherhusbanddidnotwanttopresscharges.

SandrawasreportedtoICEandhadaholdplacedonhereventhoughthereare

specialprotectionsinSB90fordomesticviolence.Thelawprohibitspeoplewhoarevictims

frombeingreportedandstatesthatpeopleaccusedofdomesticviolenceshouldonlybe

reportedtoICEafterconviction.Sandrawasdetainedfortwoweekswhilelawenforcement

sortedouthercase.ShewastoldthatpayingbondwouldbeawasteofmoneygiventheICE

hold.Intheend,allchargesweredroppedandshewasturnedovertoICEandplacedinto

deportationproceedings.


Humanconsequences:Lostherjobashousekeeperaftermissingtwoweeksofwork.Sandra

waswithoutworkfor1.5monthsuntilshefoundanewjob.

Coststhatcouldhavebeenavoided:SB90givesspecialprotectionincasesinvolving

domesticviolence,ironically,inrecognitionthatimmigrationenforcementshouldnot

impedetheabilitytoaddressthegreaterpublicsafetyconcernsthatdomesticviolence

presents.WithouttheICEnotification,Sandramighthaveonlyspent1daydetained.


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Conclusion

ThereportingrequirementsinSB90havebothdirectandindirectcoststothestate.Thedirect

effectsincludelostpolicehoursanddetentioncosts.Theindirecteffectscauselosttaxrevenueand

lostspendingintheColoradoeconomy.Furthermore,theconsequencesgobeyondstatecosts;SB90

alsocausesharmfulsideeffectsontheindividualdetaineesintheformoflostwages,lostjobs,and

losttimefromfamily.Communitytrustisunderminedwhenneighborsarereluctanttoreporta

crimeorspeakwithpoliceforfearofdetention.Detainingpeopleforlow-levelinfractionswhileICE

checksimmigrationstatus,putsboththeindividualandpoliceonhold.Giventhehighfiscal,social

andeconomicsideeffectsofitistimetoreevaluateourpolicingpriorities.

Methodology

TheHotline

TheCampaigntoUniteColoradohotlinewaslaunchedonSeptember15th2012andwasactively

promotedonEntravisionSpanishlanguageradiostationsfromSeptember15thtoDecember15th,

2012.Thepublicserviceannouncementadsran4timesaday,7daysaweek,inthefollowingmediamarkets:thesixcountyDenver-metroandBoulderarea,andtheRoaringForkValley-Aspento

Parachute.HotlineflierswerealsodistributedintheSouth,NorthandWestSloperegionsofthestate

andtestimonieswerecollectedbymembersoftheCampaigntoUniteColoradointheirlocal

communities.The25-personsamplewascollectedfromatotalof98hotlinecallers.Those25were

selectedbecausetheyprovidedcompleterecordsincludingdemographicandemploymentdata,as

wellasinformationthatcouldbeverifiedbypolicereports.Fivecasesoutofthesampleof25came

asaresultofdirectreferralstoCampaigntoUniteColoradodocumenters.

WedonotassertthatthecasesinthisdatasetarerepresentativeofallindividualsnotifiedtoICE,

onlythattheyhelpdemonstratethepotentialcosts,bothsocialandeconomicimpact,ofSB-90

notificationsandlocalimmigrationenforcement.

LostWagesandLostTaxRevenue

Togetanaveragewagelostperdaydetained($91.75),wemultipliedthenumberofworkdays

missedbyeachindividualsdailysalary.Thiswasdividedbythetotalnumberofdaysthatthe25-

personsamplespentdetained.IncomedatawasretrievedfromtheColoradoDepartmentofLabor

andEmployment.Medianincomeperhourwasassumed.Weassumedpart-timewas20hoursa

weekandfulltime40hoursperweek.Thisaverageaccountsfortheportionofpeopledetainedthat

wereunemployedatthetimeofdetentionandfordaysdetainedthatwerenon-workdays.For

example,weassumedthatsomeonedetainedfor7dayswouldmiss5daysofwork.Making$100a

day,woulddeliver$500lostsalary.Divide$500by7daysgives$72lostwageperdaydetained.

Aggregatelostwagesandlosttaxrevenueduringdetentionwascalculatedinthreesteps.Wefirst

tabulatedtheaverage-day-detainedperICEnotificationfromourdataset.Second,wemultipliedthis

averagebythenumberofICEnotificationsperyear.Third,wemultipliedthisbytheaverage-wage-

lost-per-day-detained.

TaxrevenuewasestimatedusingInstitutiononTaxationandEconomicPolicystaxmodel.vi

Accordingtothatreport,forColoradansmakinglessthan$40,000peryear,theypayapproximately

9percentofincomeinsalesanduse,incomeandpropertytaxes.


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IndividualConsequentialCosts

Calculatingatotalaveragecostforeachindividual,involvedaddingupthedirectlostwagesduring

thedetentionaswellasthefuturewageslostastheresultoflosingajobduetothedetention.The

directlostwageswasstraightforward;wemultipliedtheaverage-days-detainedbytheaverage-

wages-lost-per-day.Todeterminefuturewagelosses,wefirstaddedupthelostsalariesbecauseof

joblossorwagereductions.Wethenassumeditwouldtakeonemonthtofindanewjob,then

dividedthistotalbythenumberinoursample.Thisnumberaveragesthejoblossesovertheentire

sample.

StatisticalAnalysis

STATAsoftwarewasusedtoevaluatethecorrelationcoefficientsofvariables.Giventhatthesample

wassmall,itwasdifficulttorunafullregressionanalysis,butwewereabletoevaluatecorrelations.

ChrisStiffler

EconomistColoradoFiscalInstitute720-379-3019ext.223Stiffler@coloradofiscal.org

iC.R.S.29-29-101et.seq.iiAartiShahani,NewYorkCityEnforcementofImmigrationDetainers:PreliminaryFindings(JusticeStrategies,October2010).iiiMorton,John.CivilImmigrationEnforcement:PrioritiesfortheApprehension,Detention,andRemovalofAliens.Memorandum,U.S.CustomsandImmigrationEnforcement,PolicyNumber10072.1,March2,2011.http://www.ice.gov/doclib/news/releases/2011/110302washingtondc.pdfivItisimportanttonotethedifferencebetweenanotificationandanICEhold.ThepolicenotifyICEandthenICEdecidesifaholdisplacedontheindividual.Immigrantsarestilldetainedduringthenotificationprocess,evenafterICEgetsbacktothepoliceandsaystheydonotwanttoissueahold.OurdatasetincludesICEnotifications,fromwhichwecalculateanaverageeconomiccostpernotification.vICEdetaineeswithfamiliesandthosewholosttheirjobsreportedthattheywillbelesslikelytocooperatewithlawenforcementinthefuturecomparedtosingleimmigrantsandthosewhodidnotlosetheirjob.Therewasastrongcorrelationbetweenimmigrantswhohavefamilies(marriedorhavechildren)andthelowlikelihoodtheywouldprovidepoliceinformationasawitnessforacrimeinthefuture.

viInColorado,combinedstateandlocaltaxes(beforefederaloffsets)arebetween4.6percentand9percentofincomeforallfamilies.See:WhoPays:ADistributionalAnalysisoftheTaxSystemsinall50States,(Washington,D.C.:InstituteofTaxationandEconomicPolicy)2013,page34-35http://www.itep.org/pdf/whopaysreport.pdf

Documents

The High Cost of Immigration Enforcement