(The center square) — The Trump administration is attempting to recoup $188 million in federal grants for New York City to cover migrant costs, but city officials have vowed to fight the move in court.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency notified the city last week that it intends to terminate three grants under the Shelter and Services Program, including approximately $80 million that the agency withdrew from the city’s bank account in February. The Trump administration claims that the money was spent to support “illegal” immigration.
Cameron Hamilton, FEMA’s acting director, stated in the letter that “individuals receiving these services often have no legal status and are in the United States illegally,” and that the grant program is “inconsistent” with the Trump administration’s priorities.
“The department, consistent with President Trump’s direction, is focused on advancing the essential mission of enforcing immigration laws and securing the border,” Mr. Hamilton said.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has praised some of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, said the city will challenge the decision and “fight for every penny” related to migrant costs.
“Like their previous actions clawing back appropriated funds, these steps are unlawful, and the New York City Law Department is currently determining the best legal recourse to take to ensure that this money remains in New York City, where it was allocated and belongs,” said Adams, who is a Democrat.
The congressionally approved FEMA grants were intended to assist states, cities, and nonprofit organizations in providing shelter and other taxpayer-funded services to migrants following a historic surge in immigration at the US-Mexico border during the former Biden administration.
According to the Adams administration, New York City has spent an estimated $7 billion on housing and other costs for over 230,000 migrants who arrived in early 2022, with approximately 45,000 still in its care.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated in February that the Trump administration had “clawed back” $80 million in federal funding for New York City’s migrant costs.
Noem claimed she withdrew the FEMA grants because the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which she accused of using the Roosevelt Hotel as a “base of operations,” benefited from the federal funding.
On February 21, New York City filed a lawsuit, alleging that the “long arm of the federal government” illegally seized FEMA funds approved by Congress to help reimburse the city for migrant costs.
However, U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rearden of Manhattan declined to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent the federal funding from being seized while the legal challenge is being resolved.
