<p>[Activists</a> push ballot initiative to end state benefits for illegal immigrants and their U.S.-born children - Los Angeles Times](<a href=“http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-illegal-immigration13-2009jul13,0,4982035.story]Activists”>Activists target state aid to immigrants' children)</p>
<p>"Officials estimate that California’s 2.7 million illegal residents account for $4 billion to $6 billion of the state’s roughly $105-billion budget. Most of those costs are associated with schools, prisons and emergency healthcare.</p>
<p>“Are we going to continue asking taxpayers to pay for these services when the state is completely out of money?” asked Hilton, who first rallied against illegal immigration two decades ago.</p>
<p>Most illegal residents contribute to the state through taxes and labor, but research indicates that the costs to state and local governments outweigh the additional tax revenue, at least in the short term.</p>
<p>The nonpartisan state legislative analyst’s office says the measure could reduce costs by more than $1 billion a year if it survives legal challenges.</p>
<p>Peter Schey, a Los Angeles attorney who successfully challenged Proposition 187, said courts would almost certainly strike down the measure.</p>
<p>“This proposal . . . has no chance of surviving a constitutional challenge,” he said. “It is plainly driven by racism and a desire to whip up xenophobia during difficult economic times for U.S. citizens.”</p>