GOP governor criticizes Harris after analysis shows high cost of illegal immigration in state: 'Disaster'

Over $100 million is being spent by Mississippi on illegal immigration, as reported by a new study, with the governor attributing the issue to the federal government's failure to secure the border.

The Mississippi state auditor's report revealed that at least 22,000 illegal immigrants reside in the state, with an estimated annual cost of over $100 million to taxpayers, including more than $25 million for educating them in public schools.

It was discovered that taxpayers spend $78.7 million on healthcare for illegal immigrants and their offspring, as well as $1.7 million on imprisoning illegal immigrant offenders.

"The illegal immigration issue in Mississippi is rapidly worsening and is putting a significant financial burden on taxpayers, according to State Auditor Shad White. This problem is causing our public schools, hospitals, and prisons to lose substantial amounts of money that could have been used to benefit our own citizens if a solution is not found."

The Mississippi Dept. of Education is prohibited from gathering citizenship data, so it relied on data from the University of Mississippi to estimate that around 2,500 illegal immigrants attend public schools. Additionally, the department factored in extra spending for English Language Learners and Low Income Student Supplements.

The report reveals that around 50% of illegal immigrants lack healthcare coverage and 38% rely on emergency medical services for primary care. Additionally, the report highlights the expenses associated with births to illegal immigrants and the cost of Medicaid for children born to illegal immigrants, who are citizens of the United States.

Due to the limited amount of reliable data, the actual spending could be significantly higher, according to the report.

The report is released at a time when securing the border and addressing the crisis at the southern border are top priorities for voters and a significant concern in the upcoming election.

Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves stated that states are being compelled to increase their funding for the Biden-Harris administration's failure to secure the border, and Mississippi is not immune to this.

"Donald Trump criticized Kamala Harris's immigration policies, stating that they are endangering Americans and putting a financial strain on states. He argued that it is long past time to put a stop to it. Trump believes that Harris has been a disaster as border czar and has made the situation worse. He believes that securing our border starts with electing him in November."

The Biden administration has been accused by Republicans of causing the three-year border crisis through its policies, which allegedly reversed Trump-era measures and attracted migrants to the country.

The Biden administration has stated that it requires additional funding and changes, including a recent bipartisan Senate bill, but Republicans have not provided it. Additionally, the administration has noted a recent decline in encounters and releases since President Biden signed an executive order restricting asylum in June. During the Democratic National Convention last week, Vice President Kamala Harris stated that former President Trump had instructed his Congressional allies to sabotage the agreement.

"As president, I will revive the bipartisan border security bill that was vetoed and enact it into law. I understand, I understand, we can uphold our proud legacy as a nation of immigrants and fix our flawed immigration system," she stated. "We can establish a merit-based pathway to citizenship and safeguard our borders."