The Biden administration announced last week that it will allocate $380 million to nonprofits and local governments to help cover costs related to caring for migrants after their release by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the southern border.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is distributing the massive $380 million through its Shelter and Services Program (SSP). This initiative is designed to provide “critical support” to migrants, offering essentials like food, shelter, clothing, urgent medical care, and transportation as they wait for their immigration court hearings.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is distributing the massive $380 million through its Shelter and Services Program (SSP). This initiative is designed to provide “critical support” to migrants, offering essentials like food, shelter, clothing, urgent medical care, and transportation as they wait for their immigration court hearings.
DHS says the money helps prevent overcrowding at short-term Customs and Border Protection (CBP) holding facilities and enables non-federal entities to “off-set allowable costs incurred for services associated with noncitizen migrant arrivals in their communities.”
The $380 million grant follows just four months after the agency distributed $259.13 million in SSP grants, bringing the total funding for the year to nearly $640 million.
In fiscal year 2023, over $780 million was awarded to organizations and cities nationwide that are overwhelmed with migrants who have no place to stay and cannot work.
The surge in migrants has strained social and health services in many major cities, forcing local governments to use taxpayer funds to house them in hotels or shelters.
During the Biden administration, there were over 2.4 million migrant encounters in fiscal year 2023, and that number could be surpassed by the end of fiscal year 2024, although DHS reports that monthly figures have declined.
The $380 million grant is being divided between a total of 50 nonprofits, municipalities and government entities.
The biggest beneficiary of the allotment is New York City, a sanctuary city, which is being given nearly $22.17 million via its Office of Management, while Los Angeles is taking $21.84 million and Arizona is in line for $19.25 million.
Maricopa County and Pima County, both in Arizona, are splitting nearly $38 million in funds.
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