Friday, October 04, 2024

No, Biden Didn't Use FEMA Money on Migrants, But Trump Did

[W]hen he was president, [Trump] did exactly what he claims Biden did " take money from FEMA's disaster fund to fund migrant programs at the southern border. ... In 2019, the Trump administration, in the middle of hurricane season, told Congress that it was taking $271 million from DHS programs, including $155 million from the disaster fund, to pay for immigration detention space and temporary hearing locations for asylum seekers who have been forced to wait in Mexico.

Posted by tonyroma at 06:09 PM | 30 COMMENTS | permalink

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Trump has been trying to weaponize the Hurricane Helene relief efforts, accusing the Biden administration of failing to provide adequate assistance. As part of his critique, he claims that there is no money available for hurricane relief because it was spent already to handle the surge of migrants at the southern border.

Trump's claims have been echoed by his supporters, such as billionaire Elon Musk. But Trump is completely wrong.

Even though Trump was once president, he still appears to have little clue about the appropriations process. What's even richer is that when he was president, he did exactly what he claims Biden did - take money from FEMA's disaster fund to fund migrant programs at the southern border.

Trump has a habit of assuming other politicians act in the same way as he would. So we wondered why he would accuse Biden of raiding the FEMA disaster fund to handle undocumented migrants.

It turns out that's because he did this! In 2019, the Trump administration, in the middle of hurricane season, told Congress that it was taking $271 million from DHS programs, including $155 million from the disaster fund, to pay for immigration detention space and temporary hearing locations for asylum seekers who have been forced to wait in Mexico. "The U.S. is facing a security and humanitarian crisis on the Southern border," the administration said in its notice that it was redirecting the funds.

The monthly reports issued by the FEMA disaster fund show $38 million was plucked and given to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in August that year - just before the prime storm period of September and October.

I'm so tired of this ish, I can't wait for November 5th to come and go. Yet again, projection is Donald Trump's best friend as he tries to falsely accuse and blame the Biden Administration for exactly what he did in 2019 - take money from FEMA and spend it on immigrants at the southern border.

Quelle surprise.

#1 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-04 03:01 PM

As Trump's lies become more obvious it is an indication he's feeling increasingly desperate and I guess prison is looking more likely in his future.

#2 | Posted by danni at 2024-10-04 06:22 PM

blame the Biden Administration

It's not the "Biden" administration, it's the "Biden/Harris" administration.

Did you not get the memo?

#3 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-10-04 06:24 PM

Perhaps a few swing voters will notice... OK, that may be overly optimistic, lol.

#4 | Posted by Corky at 2024-10-04 06:24 PM

And how much did he snatch from the military budget to help pay for his stupid wall? Money that was allocated to improve security at U.S. military bases.

#5 | Posted by Twinpac at 2024-10-04 06:27 PM

Not to mention FDT withheld California's wildfire relief funding because he didn't think people were voting for him. What an -------.

#6 | Posted by chuffy at 2024-10-04 06:48 PM

Binary politics is ruining everything.

#7 | Posted by Brennnn at 2024-10-04 07:52 PM

DEMS need to get real and just st-fu for once instead of perpetually lying and coverup. Mayorkus told us in June everything is under control and will be fine for hurricanes

Can you even imagine just how bad things will get if Kamala were to somehow be in total charge. She is the kind of head bureacrat who has no interest and nothing to offer. Give her a beach chair where she can sleep and relax like daddy Joe. She doesn't give a rats axx about sheep and the needs of people.

www.msn.com

#8 | Posted by Robson at 2024-10-04 07:58 PM

@#7 ... Binary politics is ruining everything. ...

Yeah, I agree somewhat with that.

But my main concern is that politicians, once they get elected into office, seem to forget the oath they took to support the Constitution, i.e., supporting their voters and not their constituents.

So, imo, it is not the binary politics, but the politicians who seem to abdicate the oath they swore to.


Stated differently, if a politician abdicates an oath they swore to, how much can you trust that politician?

Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next (1998)
www.youtube.com


#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-04 08:07 PM

@#8 ... DEMS need to get real and just st-fu for once instead of perpetually lying and coverup. ...

From the article cited in #8 ...

... Mayorkas this week warned that FEMA was running out of funds as hurricane season continued to slam the southeastern United States. The organization has enough funds to deal with the aftermath of Helene but would not have enough to "make it through the season."

This warning stands in stark contrast to previous comments Mayorkas made in the summer assuring that FEMA would be able to handle upcoming weather crises. ...


Yeah. Sec Mayorkas made those prior comments before Helene struck.

I read the cited article.

Also from that cited article...

... However, Mayorkas did argue that FEMA's disaster relief fund remained in a precarious position and needed fresh funding from Congress ahead of an expected heavy hurricane season. In July, he anticipated running out by "mid-August." ...

Yet I do not see any evidence of the assertion that "DEMS need to get real and just st-fu for once instead of perpetually lying and coverup."

What else yer got?

#10 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-04 08:13 PM

I'm so tired of this ish, I can't wait for November 5th to come and go. Yet again, projection is Donald Trump's best friend as he tries to falsely accuse and blame the Biden Administration for exactly what he did in 2019 - take money from FEMA and spend it on immigrants at the southern border.
Quelle surprise.
#1 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-04 03:01 PM | Reply | Flag:| Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 2

This status quo disgusts me.

The appropriations have been "spent" this election cycle.

#11 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2024-10-04 08:36 PM

Repubicans have spent the better part of the last three years doing nothing and threatening to shut down the government and whining about spending, but sure, blame Mayorkas for not having enough of that socialism ready for MAGAland when the climate change they don't believe in hits...

Pick a lane and stay in it, you cultist lunatics...

#12 | Posted by chuffy at 2024-10-04 08:43 PM

I'm just waiting for the author of #8 to reply to my #10.

...

#13 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-04 08:56 PM

Too bad House Republicans didn't pass a budget to adequately fund FEMA.

The idiots have only one goal. Destroy America and blame democrats.

Fortunately for them, republican voters are fkkking morons.

#14 | Posted by ClownShack at 2024-10-04 09:00 PM

I'm just waiting for the author of #8 to reply

That beta version AI program can't complete such high level tasks.

#15 | Posted by ClownShack at 2024-10-04 09:06 PM

@#17 ... Since FEMA is assigned money for non-US citizens ...

An unsubstantiated premise.

... Since FEMA spent just 1B on non-US citizens, ...

Another unsubstantiated premise. The article your alias cites does not say that FEMA spent disaster money on immigrants.

Indeed the title of that PDF your alias cites is, "THE HISTORIC DOLLAR COSTS OF DHS SECRETARY ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS' OPEN-BORDERS POLICIES"

Sp, please explain how that relates to FEMA?

thx.





#18 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-04 09:31 PM

#8

---- off, you ------- idiot.

#19 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2024-10-04 10:07 PM

#17
---- off Jeffy

#20 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2024-10-04 10:07 PM

With Trump, it's always projection. He knows what shouldn't be done and what would have the biggest impact publicly because people told him not to do it when he was president.

#21 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2024-10-05 06:43 AM

And how much did he snatch from the military budget to help pay for his stupid wall? Money that was allocated to improve security at U.S. military bases.

#5 | Posted by Twinpac

Also to repair/rebuild housing for military families.

According to Trump Mexico was going to pay for the wall.

If Trump's lips are moving, he's lying.

#22 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2024-10-05 03:16 PM

well look at this...I won the pool.

my guess was Biden didn't but trump did...

of course everyone in the pool had that same answer.

you people are so predictably useful idiots.

#23 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2024-10-05 04:38 PM

Sadly for all Joe Biden our President used our ever declining tax money and increasing debt to protect foreign criminals and invaders instead of Americans, and that should be treason.

#24 | Posted by Robson at 2024-10-05 06:17 PM

Hahaha the lies from the left just never cease. Biden wasted all the FEMA money on his migrant crisis and now cries they don't have anymore money, then in absolute desperation, the left tries to blame Trump for it. LMFAO

#25 | Posted by THEBULL at 2024-10-06 08:27 AM

KJP#1 says otherwise.

x.com

#26 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2024-10-06 11:09 AM

It was less expensive to pays Mexico to house them and stop them at the border give them welfare, EBT cards, healthcare and housing (in hotels) here.

#27 | Posted by visitor_ at 2024-10-06 11:18 AM

#26

The ignorant preying upon the ignorance of other ignorants.

A Trump campaign spokesman pointed to FEMA's Shelter and Services Program, which gives grants to local governments and nonprofits to take care of undocumented immigrants. Congress boosted the budget from $360 million in fiscal year 2023 to $650 million in fiscal year 2024. The program's 2023 annual report says it provides shelter, such as hotel/motel services, food and transportation, including plane tickets up to $700 a person.

As we said, Congress appropriated this money, just as it did the disaster fund.

The Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is a completely separate, appropriated grant program that was authorized and funded by Congress and is not associated in any way with FEMA's disaster-related authorities or funding streams.

FEMA's disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts. Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts." ...

www.washingtonpost.com

Looks like people are lying again when the truth has been presented to them ad nausem. Wonder why?

#28 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 11:29 AM

Fact-checking scam claims about Hurricane Helene
www.newsnationnow.com

... The federal government has poured more than $110 million into assistance for the victims of Hurricane Helene, with more to come, according to the White House. It's also trying to call out the many lies about federal hurricane help popping up online.

"A number of scam artists, bad-faith actors, and others who want to sow chaos because they think it helps their political interests are promoting disinformation about the recovery," said White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt and Director of Digital Strategy Christian Tom in a lengthy statement issued on Saturday.

"Disinformation after a hurricane or other natural disaster can discourage people from seeking critical assistance when they need it most," the statement added.
Buncombe County has by far most NC deaths from Helene: State data

The White House and the Federal Emergency Management Agency listed several "falsehoods" that have spread online and countered each with facts.

Claim: Disaster relief funds used on immigrants in the US illegally
Fact-check: False...

Claim: FEMA is confiscating Helene survivors' property
Fact-check: False ...

Claim: FEMA, FAA restricting North Carolina airspace
Fact-check: False...

Claim: FEMA no longer accepting housing assistance applications
Fact-check: False...

Claim: FEMA running out of Helene disaster assistance money
Fact-check: False...

Claim: FEMA is asking for Helene donations, turning away volunteers
Fact-check: False ...

...



[see the article for the explanations]


#29 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-06 01:37 PM

Not to mention FDT withheld California's wildfire relief funding because he didn't think people were voting for him. What an -------.
#6 | Posted by chuffy

And the fnkcin' idiot couldn't figure out that more people voted for him in California than any other state. There are more Republicans in California than in New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts combined.

#30 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2024-10-06 05:39 PM

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