Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich released figures from the Department of Public Social Services reporting that in March 2011, $54 million in welfare benefits ($22 million CalWORKs + $32 million in Food Stamps) were issued to parents who reside in the United States illegally and collect benefits for their native-born children in Los Angeles County — representing an increase of $3 million from March 2010.

During the 12 months of 2010, over $625 million in CalWORKS ($265 million) + Food Stamps ($360 million) were issued to children of illegal immigrants — a 10% increase from the previous year ($56 million).  This amounts to approximately 22% of all CalWORKs and Food Stamp issuances in the County.

“When you add the $625 million to the $550 million for public safety and nearly $500 million for healthcare, the total cost for illegal immigrants to County taxpayers exceeds $1.6 billion dollars a year – not including the hundreds of millions of dollars for education,” said Antonovich.