FEMA Tells New York to Fork Over Another $106 Million in Migrant Grants
The New York Times
Federal officials informed New York City that three previously issued grants were inconsistent with President Trump’s agenda; Mayor Eric Adams said the city would sue.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has terminated $188 million in grants to New York City to care for migrants, arguing that the money is being used to support illegal immigration.
The decision, announced in a letter sent to the city on April 1, comes nearly two months after FEMA removed $80 million from the city’s bank accounts that was also to be used to care for migrants.
The $80 million that FEMA clawed back in February was part of the $188 million in grants; the latest action compels the city to turn over an additional $106 million. Mayor Eric Adams said the city would take legal action to recover the additional money, which has already been spent. The city’s lawsuit to recoup the $80 million is still active.
“Like their previous actions clawing back appropriated funds, these steps are unlawful, and the New York City Law Department is currently determining the best legal recourse to take to ensure that this money remains in New York City, where it was allocated and belongs,” the mayor said in a statement.
In his letter, the FEMA acting administrator, Cameron Hamilton, wrote that the grant money provided support to “illegal aliens that is not consistent” with the mission of President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security of “enforcing immigration laws and securing the border.”
The saga is part of an effort by the Trump administration to claw back money granted to the city under FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program, which was designed to help cities and others groups who were helping migrants once they were released from federal custody after crossing the border to seek asylum. The federal government is allowed to recover grants if it determines that the payments were improper, according to the Congressional Research Service.
