The Department of Homeland Security will consider axing billions of dollars in grants for programs that seek to prevent terrorism or help communities respond to disasters based on immigration policy in the recipient areas.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem signed a document determining that Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) programs that go to “sanctuary jurisdictions” would be subject to a review and potential “termination.”
Just because a program goes to such a jurisdiction does not necessarily mean grants will be ended. Instead, a decision will be made based on the grant’s purpose, benefits and risks and “the context of which organization is receiving the award.”
The list of grants that could be cut includes a $1.9 billion dollar program to help high-risk urban areas prevent and prepare for terrorist attacks.
It also includes a separate $760 million program that helps states and tribes prevent terrorism, and a $480 million program that helps states and tribes with emergency preparedness.
It has flagged these grants as “red.” The document also contains a list of “yellow” programs that could later receive the same treatment.
These “yellow” programs include services for major disaster survivors, funds to repair buildings damaged by a major disaster and security programs for nonprofit organizations — including houses of worship. While their review is ongoing, approval of their payments will be subject to a weekly review by the Department of Homeland Security.
And it slates some programs for termination: those that provide emergency food and shelter to migrants.
The memo was first reported by E&E News and later obtained by The Hill. It comes in response to a pair of executive orders by President Trump, including one that seeks to prevent federal cash from benefiting people who are in the U.S. illegally.
After that order, the administration has already clawed back $80 million it gave to New York to house immigrants and fired FEMA’s CFO over the issue.
It also comes after President Trump and his administration have floated putting conditions on disaster aid to California following January’s wildfires.
FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.
