Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced today his recent request to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to support Senate-passed language authorizing $28 million to create a program to reimburse Northern Border states for costs spent prosecuting and disposing of federally initiated and deferred cases.  The language, which is the same as legislation Larsen introduced in the House of Representatives, was included in the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 (S. 2611) that recently passed the Senate.  Larsen and his colleagues, Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Rep. Cathy McMorris (R-WA) sent a letter to the leadership of the Judiciary Committees asking for their support as they create the final version of immigration reform and border security legislation to be voted on by the House and Senate.

The federal government currently reimburses local governments along the Southwest Border for costs incurred while prosecuting and detaining people apprehended for federal border-related crimes.  A comparable program is lacking for the Northern Border.  The Northern Border Prosecution Initiative Reimbursement Act (H.R. 4228) would alleviate the burden on Northern Border communities like those in Whatcom County whose criminal justice resources are exhausted when federal agencies pass on cases to local authorities and the U.S. Attorney’s office chooses not to prosecute. 

“This much-needed legislation will reimburse the resources communities along the northern border spend prosecuting and detaining people apprehended for federal border-related crimes,” said Larsen.  “Our local law enforcement, prosecutors and public defenders are currently saddled with eighty-five percent of arrests initiated by federal law enforcement along the northern border.” 

Larsen continued, “Southwest Border states have had the exclusive benefit of a reimbursement program for too long.  It is time to extend that same assistance to local jurisdictions along the Northern Border.”

Specifically, the bill would provide direct reimbursement to states and communities along the U.S./Canada border for expenses, including the costs of prosecution, detention of suspects, court costs, and construction of holding spaces.  Reimbursable expenses would also include the cost of prosecuting expensive cases resulting from the investigative work of multi-jurisdictional task forces. Reimbursements would be available as long as the investigation or arrest was initiated by federal law enforcement or any case that involves a violation of federal law that has been referred for prosecution by federal authorities.

"Increased scrutiny and federal law enforcement staffing at the Canadian border in Whatcom County have profoundly overloaded our local justice system.  To continue handling these cases and to ensure justice is served, additional local law enforcement, prosecution, jail and court resources are sorely needed,” said Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo.  “As a border sheriff, I sincerely appreciate that Congress has recognized the seriousness of this situation, the impact it has upon our communities and is moving forward to provide much needed relief," he concluded.

Larsen is a member of the Northern Border Caucus and represents a northern border district in Washington state.

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