Typical Unaccompanied Minor Spends 35 Days in U.S. Costing $252 per Child a Day

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas As illegal immigrants surge across the southern U.S. border the debate surrounding the problem has focused on border security immigration policy and what to do about the illegal aliens already in the United States. But there are also economic and health care implications of the immigration surge 10 million of the uninsured are illegal immigrants. FoxBusiness.com reports that there are between 10 and 12 million illegal aliens in the United States and minors continue to pour over the border:

• According to Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) illegal unaccompanied minor children cost taxpayers $252 per child each day with the typical child spending 35 days in the United States.
• Three quarters of the unaccompanied minors are male and most are above the age of 14.
• From January 2014 to the end of June more than 57000 illegal alien minors have entered the United States up from 15949 in 2011 and 38759 in 2013.
• Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson estimates that up to 90000 unaccompanied minors will cross the U.S. border before September 30.

NCPA Senior Fellow Devon Herrick notes that illegal aliens have the highest uninsured rates in the United States. The cost of care is difficult to pin down but Herrick says:

• nearly $2 billion is spent annually on emergency Medicaid including labor delivery and other care
• while another $2 billion is spent on hospital emergency room visits and is written off for those who cannot pay.

About 10 million uninsured people are illegal immigrants" said Herrick (right). The Affordable Care Act does not expand Medicaid to illegal immigrants and illegal immigrants are not allowed to get subsidies on the exchange. They can get coverage in the individual market or through their employer."

Children born of illegal immigrants while in the U.S qualify for Medicaid which adds pressure to the government-funded program. While illegals are not granted access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act their children qualify for the program -- putting strains on an already strained system. In 2012 when around 13700 minors came through shelters after entering the country the Department of Health & Human Services spent $168 million on food staff and school for these children more than $400 per child daily according to The Wall Street Journal.  Source: Kate Rogers The Economic Impact of the Border Crisis FoxBusiness.com August 5 2014.