The new federal budget signed by President Joe Biden on Saturday includes funding to continue providing shelter to illegal immigrants in Arizona, even as many were reducing operations or preparing to close after Republicans defeated a controversial immigration and foreign aid bill.
Lawmakers approved a $1.2 trillion budget to avoid a government shutdown despite opposition in the U.S. House, where the funding bill proposed by Speaker Mike Johnson received the support of 101 Republicans. A total of 112 Republicans and 22 Democrats voted against the spending bill in the House.
The federal budget reportedly includes funding for the controversial Casa Alitas shelter in Pima County, a project of Catholic Charities and Catholic Community Services, which was accused by Representative Tom Tiffany (R-WI-07) of “aiding and facilitating illegal immigration” in a February post to social media that drew the attention of billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk.
This is crazy
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 10, 2024
Casa Alitas and other groups that provide shelter to illegal immigrants who are processed by federal immigration authorities then released into the United States are expected to receive part of $650 million in Congressional funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to ABC 15.
“Now that the $650 million is going to FEMA for distribution, we’re anxious to hear how much of that will be earmarked for Pima County,” said Pima County Administrator Jan Lesher to the outlet.
Lesher explained that federal funding for illegal immigrant shelters in Pima County should be established by April 1. That information, she told the outlet, will include “when we’ll be able to get it and those individuals will be able to continue in the smooth process we’ve been operating.”
She told ABC 15, “if money isn’t coming our way than those individuals will be released at the bus station.”
After Republicans successfully defeated the controversial border and foreign aid package crafted by Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), which would have provided additional funding to shelter illegal immigrants released into the country, at least one Catholic Charities branch in Arizona responded by firing its staff.
Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona revealed it told 30 of its shelter support staff their employment would end on March 31, though those illegal immigrant supporting jobs may have been saved by the new federal funding.
Republicans who voted against the funding bill have continued to voice opposition since it was passed, with Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) declaring, “we have been sold out” during a Friday press conference held after the vote.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Catholic Community Services of Arizona” by Catholic Community Services of Arizona
