(NewsWorthy.news) – A nonprofit is under fire for allegedly using taxpayer dollars to buy plane tickets for illegal immigrants, according to federal lawmakers.
Last week, Border Report publicized accusations from Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat representing the Lone Star State, that said Catholic Charities of San Antonio had misused FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) funds issued to the Shelter and Services program, which provides reimbursements for nonprofits giving shelter to migrants.
Cuellar—who assisted with the program’s development—has said that paying for airplane tickets to bring immigrants into America was never supposed to be covered with the funds. Rather, the money is intended to be used to offset costs of shelter and food for migrants.
However, the program accounts for “a set percentage” of money to be used for transportation. But the lawmaker said that this should only be used for local rides within a community and reserved for emergencies. Speaking to the nonprofit organization Holding Institute, Cuellar explained that families of migrants “should pay” for sending them into American cities, “not the taxpayer dollars.”
Republican Texas Rep. Monica De La Cruz also condemned the use of the funds to fly in migrants, calling it “simply unacceptable” to misuse the funds in this way. Another program of the San Antonio Catholic Charities—the MRS Centro de Bienvenida migrant shelter—will be awarded $10.8 million to provide humanitarian assistance to immigrants.
The accusations come amid ongoing tension surrounding the immigration crisis at the southern border, which has escalated in light of the upcoming presidential election. Border security and immigration are a top priority issue for American voters, some siding with President Joe Biden’s “open border” policies and others backing former president Donald Trump’s efforts to “build a wall.”
After a record number of immigrants crossed into the United States in 2021, the crisis shows no signs of slowing. Experts have warned that illegal immigrants will continue to push their way into America in the coming months despite efforts from Texas and federal law enforcement to deter illegals from entering.
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