Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Fox News Wednesday that the agency will end its grant funding to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) abusing their funds by helping “facilitate” illegal migration into the U.S.
With the Biden-Harris policies reversed, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have conducted raids to arrest “criminal aliens,” including rapists and murderers, fulfilling President Donald Trump’s vow to crack down on the southern border and illegal migration. On “The Will Cain Show,” Noem said that the agency would halt its federal aid to NGOs, stating they have helped facilitate the “invasion” of the U.S. while spending millions of taxpayer dollars.
“Today we are announcing that we have stopped all grant funding that’s being abused by NGOs to facilitate illegal immigration into this country. So it’s amazing to me the hundreds of millions of dollars that have been spent by the federal government that has been sent to NGOs to facilitate this invasion of our country,” Noem said. “So I’ve taken action to stop those funds to reevaluate them and to make sure that we’re actually using the taxpayer dollars in a way that strengthens this country that keeps us safe.”
“I think people are curious when we look at grants that are given out by federal agencies at how they’re utilized, and that evaluation needs to be done. We’re not spending another dime to help the destruction of this country,” Noem added. “We’re gonna make sure that we follow through on what President Trump has promised and that’s to make sure that we’re securing our border, deporting those who are here illegally and committing criminal actions and that our taxpayer dollars aren’t spent to help it.”
In June 2023, a report by NewsNation said that illegal migrants entering cities like New York were doing so with help from organizations such as charities or religiously affiliated nonprofits. Groups like the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service received more than $93.1 million in government grants in 2021, making up an estimated 80% of its support, according to the outlet.
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Following Cain’s breakdown of NGOs receiving millions in both 2023 and 2024, Noem said that the organizations operate both in the U.S. and across the border.
“What’s been so revealing is that many of these NGOs actually have infrastructure and operations set up in Mexico on that side of the border that are telling those illegal immigrants to come to them, and they will get them across the border. So they’re not just operating in the United States, they’re operating outside of the United States to help make it easier for those who want to break our laws,” Noem said.
“I was one of those Americans that years ago when somebody said NGO to me I thought, ‘Oh that’s amazing. That’s a nonprofit that’s out there telling somebody about Jesus or spreading faith and salvation or doing good work and charitable work helping people that are less fortunate.’ Then I realized over the years it’s been perverted into this shadow government,” Noem said. “An NGO is sometimes an operation that does things that the government cannot do — can’t legally do. So they create an entity to use government dollars, taxpayer dollars, to do something that the federal government isn’t allowed to do. To do a shadow government operation that really has been used recently to undermine our country’s national security.”
Sources in October 2024 told the Daily Caller that a network of NGOs was collaborating with government agencies during the Biden-Harris administration to facilitate the resettlement of migrants into the U.S. According to the USA Spending database, federal spending on loans, grants, and contracts with the keyword “immigrant” had significantly increased since 2020. One of the former administration’s refugee sponsorship programs, Welcome Corps, allows “groups of at least five people” to sponsor a refugee.
Featured Image Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
