Title: Democrats Divert COVID-19 Relief Funds to Support Illegal Immigrants, Critics Say
In recent months, Democrat-run states and cities across the United States, facing an influx of illegal immigrants, have allocated millions of dollars in COVID-19 financial assistance programs to support “undocumented residents.” These programs, funded by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), have drawn criticism for diverting relief funds intended for pandemic recovery towards illegal immigrants.
According to a review conducted by Digital, Democrat governors and mayors have earmarked at least $517 million for these programs, primarily consisting of cash payments to individual illegal immigrants. The ARP, a $1.9 trillion federal stimulus package signed into law by President Biden in March 2021, was intended to aid local governments in their recovery from the pandemic.
The Economic Policy Innovation Center recently released a report stating that the Biden administration has been actively encouraging illegal immigration by utilizing COVID funds from the recovery fund. The report cited examples of how federal ARP funds were diverted to illegal immigrants in Washington state, Illinois, and New Jersey, as well as in cities such as Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver, and Boston.
Washington state stands out as having crafted the largest program, allocating $340 million from the ARP for the “COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund.” This program involved providing one-time cash grants of $1,000 to immigrants with unauthorized citizenship status. The state’s legislature approved the program in April 2021, and according to state and federal filings, over 100,000 undocumented residents received payments of $3,075 each.
Similarly, Illinois allocated $71.8 million from the ARP for cash payments to households ineligible to receive Economic Impact Payments due to immigration status. Chicago’s government further earmarked $14.7 million for the “resiliency fund,” providing $500 cash transfers to previously excluded residents and domestic workers without any questions asked about their citizenship or immigration status.
However, these programs have faced criticism for straining taxpayer-funded government services designed for citizens. Republican lawmakers argue that states and cities cannot indefinitely respond to the strain on resources without Congressional action. In a letter to President Biden and congressional leaders, nine Democrat governors, including New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, characterized the influx of migrants as a “humanitarian crisis.”
Critics argue that these programs incentivize illegal immigration and divert resources away from American citizens who have also been severely impacted by the pandemic. They emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to immigration reform and border security.
As the Biden administration faces mounting criticism for its handling of the situation at the southern border, Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to continue sending migrants to sanctuary cities until the administration takes decisive action to secure the border.
The issue of illegal immigration and the allocation of COVID relief funds to support undocumented residents continues to be a contentious topic, with critics calling for greater transparency and accountability in the use of taxpayer dollars.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of Digital.
