DHS, DHHS jointly press Congress for additional border security funding

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued an urgent funding request to Congress this week, stating that the immigration surge at the southern border threatens to deplete existing budgets.

Though the Trump Administration requested $4.5 billion in emergency appropriations for the DHS, DHHS and their partners in the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice meant to address the situation at the southern border, Congressional action has not moved beyond consideration.

“Absent an emergency appropriation, HHS anticipates running out of funding as soon as this month,” DHS Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan and DHHS Secretary Alex Azar wrote. “The Anti-Deficiency Act, which is a criminal statute, requires HHS to take actions to minimize the deficiency and only to fund operations that are essential for the safety of human life and protection of property — similar to those activities allowed during a government shutdown. In the last few weeks, because of rapidly depleting funds caused by the border surge, ORR (Office of Refugee Resettlement) was required by law to scale back or discontinue awards, and had to instruct grantees that new awards cannot be used for UAC activities that are not directly necessary for the protection of life and property, including education services, legal services, and recreation.”

Personnel and resources are being shifted from other agencies to address concerns, and it’s only worsening. The Administration claims more and more people are entering the United States illegally. Further, more vulnerable populations are said to be arriving — in May alone, DHS reports that an average of more than 4,650 people crossed into the United States daily illegally. As of last week, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol held more than 17,000 people, and they report their agents are spending more than half of their time attempting to care for families and children in custody.

“Since May 1, the day the Administration submitted this request, over 144,000 migrants have crossed our southern border illegally,” McAleenan said in a separate statement. “While the Department is doing everything we can to maximize our resources and personnel in a Department-wide emergency response, the surge of families and unaccompanied children migration has created an unsustainable strain on DHS personnel working to protect our borders. The Administration’s emergency supplemental request will support DHS efforts to address the immediate humanitarian crisis. Without this funding, DHS will not have the resources to properly care for the families and children in custody.”