The Trump administration has undertaken a fresh examination of organizations that offer temporary shelter and other assistance to migrants. This action stems from concerns that these groups may have breached laws commonly employed to prosecute human smuggling activities.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is apprehensive that federal funds, intended to manage the increase in migration during former President Joe Biden’s tenure, might have been misused for unlawful activities. This concern was articulated by Cameron Hamilton, the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
In a communication dated Tuesday, Hamilton urged those receiving grants from FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program to deliver comprehensive records of the migrants aided, including names, contact details, and specifics of services rendered, within a month. He also indicated that funding would be suspended pending this assessment. Though criminal prosecution isn’t explicitly threatened, there’s worry that grant recipients might have contravened U.S. Criminal Code Section 1324, which pertains to the crime of illegally bringing or moving individuals across U.S. borders. The communication further noted that organizational leaders are required to affirm their lack of knowledge about any infractions related to the smuggling law.
Concurrently, on Wednesday, shelters in New York City, partially funded by FEMA to accommodate migrants, received subpoenas demanding details such as the names and birth dates of migrants residing in these facilities. This information was disclosed by two anonymous individuals due to the confidential nature of the legal proceedings.
The subpoenas targeted properties like the Roosevelt Hotel and Stewart Hotel in Manhattan. Furthermore, a subpoena was issued to an establishment previously known as the Hotel Chandler. This building, though converted into a homeless shelter some years ago and not primarily housing migrants, might have been mistakenly included. Another building, the Candler building near Times Square, is currently functioning as a migrant shelter.
Spokespersons from the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office and the Justice Department in Washington have chosen not to comment on the ongoing review, with FEMA yet to provide a statement in response.
This directive marks a renewed action against groups that supply essentials like food, lodging, and travel support to border-crossing migrants. Many such migrants arrive exhausted, financially constrained, and often require assistance navigating transportation hubs.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican dissenting with the Biden administration’s immigration policies and backing the Trump administration, similarly attempted to restrict migrant aid organizations but was legally impeded. His administration facilitated transport for thousands of migrants from Texas to New York City, which is legally obligated to offer shelter to those in need.
In response to the influx, New York City reopened the previously closed Roosevelt Hotel as a central welcome center for newcomers. However, FEMA retracted over $80 million in grants formerly allocated to New York during Biden’s presidency after queries arose about their legality. The city is seeking legal recourse for the return of these funds.
Mayor Eric Adams shared, during an unrelated event, that his administration hadn’t been informed about the federal review. He emphasized support for the staff involved in migrant shelters and the complexities they face due to the ongoing scrutiny.
Adams recently stated that operations at the Roosevelt would conclude by June, with the city presently accommodating over 42,700 migrants across 180 locations, a decrease from nearly 70,000 earlier this year. The mayor’s office, citing the investigation’s active status, refrained from commenting on the subpoenas.
In the 2024 fiscal year, FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program distributed $641 million to various state and local entities and organizations nationwide to assist with the large migrant influx across the Mexican border. This included allocations to cities like New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Denver, alongside entities such as the United Way of Miami, the San Antonio Food Bank, and various Catholic Charities branches.
The Adams administration acknowledged receipt of FEMA’s correspondence and is actively reviewing its content. This move is in line with the Trump administration’s longstanding criticism of jurisdictions that do not fully collaborate with federal immigration enforcement efforts, including its recent legal action against Chicago over such concerns.