Discussion and possible action to authorize the acceptance of a grant award in the amount of $113,542 to the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for a FY 2024 State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) grant for reimbursement of costs already incurred for the incarceration of undocumented criminal aliens at the Webb County jail; and authorizing the Webb County Judge to execute all relevant documents; and any other matters incident thereto. This grant does not require any cash match, and, in fact, is a reimbursement of costs already incurred. All required documents were sent for review through the Economic Development Department and the solicitation is compliant with the Webb County Single Point of Contact (SPOC) procedures. [Requested by Martin Cuellar, Webb County Sheriff; Account #1001-4070-330150]

Issue: Although immigration matters, including illegal immigration, are constitutionally established as existing under the legal jurisdiction and regulation of the federal government, state prisons and local detention facilities, such as the Webb County jail, incur significant costs for incarcerating undocumented foreign aliens who commit crimes in the United States. This includes but is not limited to supervision, housing, feeding, clothing, any medical and transportation expenses, and other associated detention costs.
 
Solution: Grant award to obtain reimbursement of a small percentage of the incurred correctional officer salary costs associated with detaining undocumented criminal aliens who had at least one felony or two misdemeanor convictions for violations of state or local law and who were incarcerated at the Webb County jail for at least four (4) consecutive days.
 
Result: Webb County will be reimbursed by the federal government a limited percentage of the amount of funding expended.

Under FY 2024 SCAAP, payments will be made in connection with “undocumented criminal aliens” who had been convicted of at least one felony or two misdemeanors (typically for violations of state or local law) and who were “incarcerated” under the legal authority of the applicant government for at least 4 consecutive days during the “reporting period.”

The submission of this grant application and acceptance of the grant award is approved on a yearly basis.