The Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) has been caught in an online of deception relating to its spending priorities.
As People grapple with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene, FEMA insists that no funds are being diverted from catastrophe reduction to help unlawful immigrant resettlement. But, proof suggests in any other case.
In keeping with the Division of Power and Setting’s website, FEMA’s “mission is to help the residents and first responders to advertise that as a nation we work collectively to construct, maintain, and enhance {our capability} to organize for, defend towards, reply to, get better from, and mitigate all hazards.”
Nevertheless, latest actions by the company confirmed that they aren’t really fulfilling this mandate. As a substitute of specializing in the rapid wants of Americans affected by pure disasters, FEMA is allocating substantial sources to help unlawful immigrants.
This week, outstanding Republicans, together with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Donald Trump Jr., have vocally criticized FEMA’s determination to allocate $640 million for migrant help.
This comes on the heels of Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ assertion that FEMA is “assembly the rapid wants with the cash that we’ve got” whereas concurrently claiming that “FEMA doesn’t have the funds to make it by the season.”
Governor Abbott took to social media, stating, “That is straightforward. Mayorkas and FEMA — instantly cease spending cash on unlawful immigration resettlement and redirect these funds to areas hit by the hurricane. Put People first.”
That is straightforward.
Mayorkas and FEMA — instantly cease spending cash on unlawful immigration resettlement and redirect these funds to areas hit by the hurricane.
Put People first. pic.twitter.com/m8cIBhz32r
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) October 3, 2024
Regardless of Congress not too long ago granting $20 billion for FEMA’s catastrophe reduction fund as a part of a short-term authorities spending invoice, Secretary Mayorkas claimed that the company is struggling to keep up sufficient sources for emergency response. “We’re assembly the rapid wants with the cash that we’ve got. We expect one other hurricane hitting,” he stated on Wednesday.
FEMA has gone into injury management, making a devoted webpage to “fact-check” claims about its monetary mismanagement.
On a newly created fact-check web page, the company vehemently denied that any cash had been diverted from catastrophe response to help “worldwide efforts or border-related points,” asserting that their catastrophe response efforts are funded by a devoted Catastrophe Aid Fund.
In keeping with the company, “That is false. No cash is being diverted from catastrophe response wants. FEMA’s catastrophe response efforts and particular person help is funded by the Catastrophe Aid Fund, which is a devoted fund for catastrophe efforts. Catastrophe Aid Fund cash has not been diverted to different, non-disaster associated efforts.”
However FEMA’s denials ring hole as People see the details unfold.
In keeping with America First Authorized, over $1 billion, which ought to have been used for American catastrophe reduction, has as an alternative been redirected into resettling unlawful immigrants by applications just like the “Shelter and Providers Program.”
The Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is a FEMA-administered program that gives monetary help to non-federal entities to assist noncitizen migrants after they’re launched from the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS).
In keeping with the Biden administration’s personal studies, FEMA allotted $364 million within the 2023 fiscal yr and one other $650 million for 2024 to offer humanitarian providers to unlawful immigrants launched from DHS custody.
This cash is being spent on shelter, meals, reward playing cards, and lodge lodging — whereas Americans drown, wait in shelters, and battle to outlive the aftermath of one of many deadliest storms in latest historical past.
A Division for Homeland Safety spokesperson informed Newsweek, “These claims are utterly false. As Secretary Mayorkas stated, FEMA has the required sources to satisfy the rapid wants related to Hurricane Helene and different disasters.”
“The Shelter and Providers Program (SSP) is a totally separate, appropriated grant program that was licensed and funded by Congress and isn’t related in any means with FEMA’s disaster-related authorities or funding streams.”
The reality is plain—American tax {dollars} are getting used to help unlawful immigrants whereas disaster-stricken residents are left ready for reduction. FEMA might declare that the Shelter and Providers Program (SSP) is a separate entity, however People aren’t fooled.
The SSP nonetheless represents the administration’s skewed priorities, utilizing taxpayer funds to deal with border-related points as an alternative of specializing in the wants of struggling People.
