GOP lawmakers open probe into FEMA allegedly giving out money to 'incentivize' illegal migration

Top House Republicans began a probe Monday into the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program for allegedly giving taxpayer funds to nongovernmental organizations the GOP lawmakers say "facilitate and incentivize illegal immigration."

They expressed their concerns in a letter Monday to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and said that a recent report from the Daily Caller indicates the "American Red Cross is contributing to – not helping to alleviate – illegal immigration" by facilitating the housing and travel of migrants released into the United States and providing migrants in Central America and Mexico with detailed maps to the U.S. border. 

Additionally, the American Red Cross has a member appointed to the national governing board of FEMA's emergency shelter program, the lawmakers allege. 

They also expressed concerns about FEMA's oversight in general.

The agency's emergency shelter program "reimbursed nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and local recipient organizations (LROs) for services to migrants .... without required supporting documentation in 58 percent of sampled funds appropriated under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," the lawmakers also wrote. 

FEMA's shelter program has $350 million in funding available to assist local communities dealing with illegal immigration, and the lawmakers are asking for FEMA to provide documentation regarding activities assisting illegal migrants, use of federal funds for migrant services and more.

The 20 Republican members of Congress who signed the letter include Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer and Government Innovation Subcommittee Chairwoman Nancy Mace, of South Carolina.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.