FEMA’s Growing Involvement in Aiding Immigrants

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FEMA’s Growing Involvement in Aiding Immigrants
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FEMA’s Growing Involvement in Aiding Immigrants

Just the News reported on how FEMA’s resources were diverted to manage immigration, leading to bipartisan blame as the agency faces criticism for its hurricane response. Many were surprised by evidence that “FEMA routing $640.9 million in grants to nonprofits aiding immigrants,” while FEMA asserts that no disaster funds were diverted. FEMA clarified, “Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster-related efforts.”

However, Fox News reported, “The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has less than 10% of front-line staff available for deployment amid preparations for the second major hurricane to hit the Southeast this month, according to the agency's daily operations briefing.”

Fox News also noted:

However, despite the optimistic response to concerns about FEMA resources, Mayorkas did say last week during a formal press conference that "FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the [hurricane] season."

Questions about FEMA funding have been exacerbated by suggestions that the agency was giving disaster relief money to migrants. FEMA has sent aid to migrants, but the money was part of the Shelter and Services Program, which remains separate from disaster relief funds. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R–La., acknowledged that the funds were part of a separate program unrelated to disaster relief, but noted that he didn't think the agency should be involved in the migrant crisis.

"The streams of funding are different, that is not an untrue statement, of course," Johnson told Fox News’ Shannon Bream. "But the problem is with the American people, see, and what they're frustrated by, is that FEMA should be involved."

Critics of FEMA’s involvement with immigrants, like Congressman Ralph Norman, argue that the broken budget process is responsible for FEMA funding immigrants instead of disaster victims. Norman said, “They, the Democrats, play us like a drum.” Republicans have raised concerns that FEMA’s immigration responsibilities are hindering its ability to handle natural disasters, particularly after Hurricane Helene left many without help.

So, how did we get here at the end of hurricane season with two major disasters with limited resources allocated to relief for Americans?

Just the News reported:

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also denied that FEMA resources were going to illegal migrants at a press conference last week despite her own statements at the podium two years earlier touting the opposite. 

“Funding is also available through FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter program to eligible local governments and not-for-profit organizations upon request to support humanitarian relief for migrants,” Jean-Pierre said of FEMA efforts to alleviate the immigration crisis.  

A Democrat-run Congress that year later created the Shelter and Services Program (SSP) was to replace a similar program formerly run by DHS, which was directed to transfer $800 million of its appropriations in 2023 to the emergency management department. Though FEMA is a subagency of DHS, it represented a transfer of the core responsibility for illegal and legal immigrant support to the agency dedicated to disaster relief. 

RELATED: After bungled response to Helene, demand a squeaky-clean election (Glenn Reynolds on New York Post)