Nation IN BRIEF : FLORIDA : $884 Million Spent on Illegal Immigrants

State and local governments spent $884 million last year on health care, education, prisons and other public services for 345,000 illegal immigrants, a new report says. The report will be used to support a lawsuit Gov. Lawton Chiles plans to file against the federal government seeking reimbursement for services to refugees and illegal immigrants. The report, “The Unfair Burden: Immigration’s Impact on Florida,” is the first attempt by state officials to put a price on the services used by legal and illegal aliens. It was prepared by the governor’s office and the Florida Advisory Council on Intergovernmental Relations.