Elian case has cost U.S. government more than $500,000

April 27, 2000
Web posted at: 5:59 p.m. EDT (2159 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Elian Gonzalez case has cost taxpayers more than half million dollars since the boy was discovered floating on an inner tube off the coast of Florida last November.

Justice Department officials Thursday released preliminary figures showing a total estimated cost of $578,000 through April 24 for legal, security and mediation fees.

Of that total, the Immigration and Naturalization Service spent an estimated $374,000 for a wide range of immigration-related activities, including last Saturday's raid.

AUDIO U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno speaks to reporters Thursday about the welfare of Elian 941K/33 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Dr. Paulina Kernberg, who spent more than two hours with Elian on Tuesday, says he is doing very well 444K/20 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     RESOURCES Who's who in the Elian Gonzalez case     MESSAGE BOARD US/Cuba relations     CNN - GALLUP POLL Public: Reunion of Elian with Father Should Have Occurred Earlier     SEARCH WARRANT Search warrant obtained to seize Elian on Saturday, April 22

No specific breakdown was yet available on the costs of the raid or on the costs of housing the agents, many of whom arrived in the Miami area about a week before "Operation Reunion." The figure also includes overtime costs for hundreds of INS employees, as well as fees for the two government-appointed psychiatrists and one psychologist.

The U.S. Marshals Service has spent $161,000 on security, including the protection of Elian's father Juan Miguel Gonzalez in Bethesda and two plane trips. A Marshals Service plane was sent to Opa-locka Airport in Florida on the night of April 12, with the hope of returning Elian to Washington. The second flight was on the night of April 21, when Elian was whisked to Andrews Air Force Base to be reunited with his father.

Contributions cover Miami family's fees

Legal fees and expenses for Juan Gonzalez are being paid for by private, anonymous contributions gathered by The General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, according to the official Web site of the National Council of Churches, an affiliated group.

The legal fees and expenses for Lazaro Gonzalez, Elian's great-uncle, are being provided pro bono by his three primary attorneys, Spencer Eig, Linda Osberg-Braun and Roger Bernstein. Money also reportedly has been raised by solicitation campaigns on Miami's Spanish-language radio stations.

Other costs for the federal government include:

  •  An estimated $11,000 by the Civil Division, which has filed a series of briefs in both federal court and a Florida state court.

  •  About $25,000 by the Community Relations Service, which had attempted to develop a peaceful outcome in the case by working with a variety of organizations and factions in the Miami area.

Additionally, the Justice Department said it will reimburse the Defense Department for the use of facilities at Andrews Air Force Base.

The government expects to have more detailed figures available at a later date.

Correspondent Terry Frieden, Legal Times and the National Council of Churches contributed to this report.

U.S. psychiatrist: Elian 'doing well'
April 26, 2000
Sources: Elian Gonzalez to receive visitors from Cuba on Wednesday
April 25, 2000
INS: Elian's Miami family tried to block agents
April 24, 2000
Father won't see Elian's Miami relatives for time being
April 23, 2000
Elian's Miami relatives turned away from meeting with father
April 22, 2000
Federal agents seize Elian in pre-dawn raid
April 22, 2000
Reno ponders force, other options, to end Elian standoff
April 22, 2000

U.S. Attorney General
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
U.S. Department of Justice
Executive Office of the Governor of Florida
Eleventh Circuit Published Opinions
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
LibertyForElian.org - Foundation to Help Save Elian
Granma Internacional Digital, Cuba
  •  Kidnap in Miami
Cubaweb
Cuban American National Foundation

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