We're all glad when we read about yet another illegal alien (or, indeed, any) goblin caught and facing punishment. But due process, to which all accused are entitled under our Constitution, can be expensive. More often than not, the goblins require a public defender; then there is the cost of prosecution, a trial, often appeals, and the not-inconsiderable cost of incarceration. With our own home-grown criminals, this is an inescapable part of the process.
But what about illegal alien criminals? When caught, many of these face serious charges here in the United States, and our gut instincts tell us they should face trial and punishment right here, as opposed to being repatriated and presumably letting their home countries deal with them.
The costs are indeed considerable, and the price to simply send the crooks back is typically a lot less. A recent report by Dr. John Lott of the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) has some of those numbers. One case in particular is telling.
Take the case of Isaac Melendez-Carranza, an illegal alien from El Salvador, who was recently arrested for allegedly selling fentanyl to students at Park View High School in Loudoun County, Virginia. Investigators linked him to at least two student overdoses, though Narcan saved both students. A judge ordered Melendez-Carranza deported in July 2024. Federal immigration authorities encountered him the following month, during the Biden administration, but took no enforcement action against him.
The cost of getting a conviction are substantial.
"Substantial" doesn't seem to cover it. Here are some of those numbers:
If this illegal alien (Isaac Melendez-Carranza) agrees to a plea bargain, the estimated total government costs for a case like this (Virginia state felony fentanyl distribution near a school in Loudoun County) range from roughly $50,000–$100,000+. If the charge proceeds to a full contested trial, the expected total government cost (trial process + Loudoun County jail time only while awaiting and during trial) is roughly $90,000–$150,000. Unfortunately, the State of Virginia is very unlikely to turn him over to ICE immediately upon conviction for early deportation in place of serving the criminal sentence, so the total cost of a contested trial and prison could be as high as $600,000+. Even a Plea bargain + short sentence (e.g., time served + 1–2 years prison/jail): could be as high as $150,000 total. The total legal costs for violent crimes such as aggravated assault, robbery, rape, and murder would be much higher.
Taken all in all, with the number of illegal aliens we know about, the number that have been captured since President Trump reassumed office, and the estimates of the cost to the taxpayers is expected to exceed $100 billion. Dr. Lott has those numbers, too.
Now assume the government had to prosecute and convict all 248,000 illegal aliens arrests up through August 29th based on only charges for crimes—even if only for a drug offense—before it could deport them. At a minimum expense of $150,000 per case, prosecuting all 236,000 illegal aliens would cost taxpayers $37.2 billion. At $600,000 or more per case, the total cost would exceed $148.8 billion.
Set that now against the cost of a brief ICE detainer and a plane ride back to wherever the perp originated, and you've got a big difference. And no, there's no reason for the United States of America to bend to some Third World feces-hole's statements about how they aren't taking their people back. Put the goblin on a plane, and put a U.S. Marshal on the plane with him to make sure he gets off at the far end, and like it or not, he's his home country's problem.
Here's the thing: It's not all about the cost. There are other issues as well.
First: There's a certain visceral satisfaction in seeing an illegal alien criminal brought to justice here, in the nation where he (or she) committed the crime. The various fraud cases we have seen, which involve legal residents and citizens as well as illegal aliens, are bad enough. But drug trafficking, or crimes involving violence, are even worse, and it's understandable that desire to see them face an American judge and jury and a long stretch in an American prison.
Second: Depending on where the perp came from, there's always the chance that he won't be facing any charges in his home country, and may well simply be released on arrival. That goblin is then free to return, or to attempt to return, to the United States and undertake some new depredation. That would involve an even greater tragedy, as the new crime could have been prevented twice over, by denying the perp admission to the USA in the first place, as happened so readily from 2021 to 2025, and by keeping him in an American prison.
Third and finally: Sooner or later, a Democrat administration will once more be seated in the White House, and given who the likely candidates for the 2028 election are looking, any such new administration may look back at the Biden years on immigration policy and say, "Hold my beer."
Yes, the money is substantial. But the risks of simply deporting illegal alien criminals are also high. Some middle ground is probably in order; keeping violent perps, regardless of immigration status, right here in our American justice system would seem to be the better option. Deport the minor offenders. Keep the really bad people to face American justice, and, with any luck, a long, long term in an American prison.
