Catholic Charities of San Antonio is facing a crisis as it runs out of federal funding aimed at supporting asylum-seekers, potentially resulting in the closure of its Migrant Resource Center during evening and overnight hours. The nonprofit previously received $55 million from FEMA to provide temporary shelter, food, legal services, and transportation to over 220,000 people, but now only has $5.7 million left. With Congress reducing FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program funding to $650 million, down nearly 20% from the prior year, cities and counties are struggling to meet the needs of a surge of migrants entering the US.
There is a call for additional funding from the Biden administration and other lawmakers to address the funding shortfall faced by organizations like Catholic Charities. Rep. Joaquin Castro emphasizes that immigration is a federal responsibility and that cities need more help, not less, to support asylum-seekers. However, with the reduction in funding, organizations are being forced to make difficult decisions about how to continue providing services to new arrivals, including potential staff reductions and service cutbacks.
The funding cut comes at a time when the number of migrants at the US-Mexico border is at or near record levels, putting further strain on resources for cities and counties. Municipalities like San Antonio are still waiting to hear how much funding they will receive for the fiscal year and are preparing for potential service reductions. Cities are also discussing contingency plans in anticipation of reduced federal assistance, with concerns about the impact on services such as law enforcement, emergency services, and health care.
Lawmakers’ decision to cut FEMA funding has raised concerns from organizations like the National Association of Counties, as diverting resources from other crucial programs may be necessary due to the funding shortfall. Mayors in cities like Mesa, Arizona, are preparing for an increase in migrant arrivals and exploring options to provide assistance, even with limited resources. The city of San Antonio is advocating for additional funding to help migrants, stating that they will seek to use federal funds rather than local funds to avoid affecting essential services like police and firefighters.
Despite the challenges faced by organizations and cities in providing assistance to asylum-seekers, there is a continued push for additional federal funding to address the growing need. The Department of Homeland Security has acknowledged the limited nature of the current funding and is urging Congress to pass a bipartisan border security agreement that would provide an additional $1.4 billion in funds. Mayors and local officials continue to advocate for support to ensure that migrants receive the necessary assistance and services during their stay in the US.
