Boo Hoo - Millions Not Spent on Illegals in Texas

By Tim Grubbs
July 17, 2008
Law

An AP article says that more than $300 million in potential grants has gone unspent on colonias (sic) on the border between Texas and Mexico.

The article describes deplorable living conditions like “ramshackle” buildings with tin roofs, slapped together in unincorporated areas along the border. When it rains, drainage ditches fill in front of their homes. Sewage often swells beyond septic tank limits, causing environmental and health concerns for those living in these underserved communities. The article goes on to describe a situation where small communities are unable to organize the resources to accomplish what needs to be done.

What the article doesn’t mention at all is the people living in these underserved communities are by and large illegal immigrants from Mexico. While the article describes millions of dollars approved by Congress to be spent on infrastructure improvements for colonias, local officials don’t have a legal way to provide these services to the individuals who have illegally come into the United States and live in unzoned, unapproved, unlawful communities.