A recent watchdog report has unveiled that the Biden administration allocated tens of billions of dollars in grants to migrants and refugees through a government agency, with over $10 billion spent in a single year.
The analysis by Open the Books scrutinized grants awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement, which is tasked with the care of unaccompanied migrant children who have crossed the southern border illegally, as well as legally entering refugees.
As reported by Fox News, the watchdog's findings reveal a significant increase in grant distribution over the years. In the fiscal year 2021, $2.4 billion was allocated to nonprofits, which increased to $3.4 billion in 2022. The figure then surged to an astonishing $10 billion in 2023, before being reduced to $4.2 billion in 2024. This escalation coincided with a historic migrant crisis at the southern border, which posed a considerable challenge to the Biden administration from 2021 to 2024.
The report highlights that the funds were used for various programs, including assisting migrants in saving for car and home purchases, providing business and personal loans, and offering legal aid and cultural orientation. Open the Books CEO John Hart expressed concern over the financial burden placed on American taxpayers, stating, "We're hurting American taxpayers. People in places like North Carolina, Los Angeles that have lost everything. How is it moral to ask them to pay the bill for someone who wants to come to this country illegally? That's outrageous."
This revelation emerges amid heightened scrutiny of government funding, particularly concerning migrants, under the Trump administration's oversight led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a related development, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently reclaimed $59 million in FEMA funds initially designated for hotels accommodating migrants in New York City and dismissed four FEMA employees involved in the disbursement of these payments. A DHS spokesperson emphasized, "There will not be a single penny spent that goes against the interest and safety of the American people."
In response to the ongoing border crisis, the Trump administration has intensified border security measures and curtailed releases into the interior. It has also suspended refugee resettlement, lifted restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and declared a national emergency at the southern border.
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