Republicans fume over disparity in FEMA’s payments to illegal immigrants, hurricane survivors

Congressional Republicans lashed FEMA Director Deanne Criswell on Tuesday over her agency’s payments to illegal immigrants, saying that money could be better used on Americans suffering from recent natural disasters.

Rep. Garret Graves, Louisiana Republican, said newly arrived illegal immigrants can get more than $10,000 in Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance as they move into American communities. But he said FEMA only offers $750 cash payments to those digging out from Hurricane Helene.

“How would I explain that to a taxpayer, that a taxpayer, a citizen of the United States, is eligible for $750 yet a citizen of a foreign country, under your agency, is still eligible for assistance of $10,000?” he demanded. “This is ridiculous.”

The issue arose as Ms. Criswell is seeking an emergency infusion of $100 billion in disaster relief, saying she needs the funding to help recovery efforts resulting from Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton and other pressing disasters.

But Republicans say she should look within her own budget first, taking money from the illegal immigrant assistance fund, officially known as the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. EFSP pays nonprofits who assist newly arrived migrants with housing and other resettlement needs.

Ms. Criswell defended the spending, saying she’s carrying out the orders from Congress, which created and funded the EFSP.

“We are administering that program as directed by Congress,” she said.

Republicans said that was ducking the issue.

Rep. Marc Molinaro, New York Republican, said FEMA is uniquely empowered among agencies to prioritize its funding for the most pressing needs. He said the recent natural disasters should make Americans the priority.

He chided Ms. Criswell over FEMA’s mission statement, which was changed under President Biden to include “equity” as a goal. Mr. Molinaro said the agency isn’t showing equity to the Americans who need help.

“The agency has failed and it has lost focus,” he said.

Ms. Criswell challenged Republicans’ math.

She said the $750 payments were just initial cash assistance and disaster survivors are actually eligible for as much as $85,000 in total funding, including rental housing, while their homes are being repaired.

Correction: This article has been updated to correct the name of Rep. Garret Graves.