The former president said on Thursday that Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, had diverted “billions” in emergency funds to housing for illegal immigrants.
It comes after Alejandro Mayorkas, the Homeland Security secretary, admitted that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was running out of money following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene.
“Kamala spent all the FEMA money, billions of dollars, for housing for illegal immigrants,” Trump told a rally in Michigan on Thursday.
He continued: “People are dying in North Carolina – they’re dying all over. There’s five, six states and they’re getting no help from our federal government.
“Because they have no money. Because their money’s been spent on people that should not be in our country.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is not able to move money from migrant resettlement schemes, known as the Shelter and Service Program, to other areas because this is decided by an Act of Congress.
In 2024, for example, the DHS Appropriations Act allocated $640.9 million to the resettlement program to relieve pressure on migrant holding facilities.
The Harris campaign fired back at Trump on Friday, saying he had “gutted” FEMA during his time in the White House by diverting $150 million to border security.
Amid the row over FEMA funding, Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, also claimed this week that Mr. Mayorkas should simply move funds from migrant resettlement programs over to hurricane relief.
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Donald Trump has claimed that money [for Hurricane Helene victims](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2024/09/27/hurricane-helene-hits-florida/) is being spent on migrants.
The former president said on Thursday that Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, had diverted “billions” in emergency funds to housing for illegal immigrants.
It comes after Alejandro Mayorkas, the Homeland Security secretary, admitted that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was running out of money following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene.
As well as providing relief following disasters such as hurricanes, the agency also has a role in the [resettlement of migrants](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2024/10/04/new-yorks-migrant-problems-spilling-into-suburbs-democrats/).
“Kamala spent all the FEMA money, billions of dollars, for housing for illegal immigrants,” Trump told a rally in Michigan on Thursday.
He continued: “People are dying in North Carolina – they’re dying all over. There’s five, six states and they’re getting no help from our federal government.
“Because they have no money. Because their money’s been spent on people that should not be in our country.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is not able to move money from migrant resettlement schemes, known as the Shelter and Service Program, to other areas because this is decided by an Act of Congress.
In 2024, for example, the DHS Appropriations Act allocated $640.9 million to the resettlement program to relieve pressure on migrant holding facilities.
The Harris campaign fired back at Trump on Friday, saying he had “gutted” FEMA during his time in the White House by diverting $150 million to border security.
Amid the row over FEMA funding, Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, also claimed this week that Mr. Mayorkas should simply move funds from migrant resettlement programs over to hurricane relief.
“This is easy. Mayorkas and FEMA – immediately stop spending money on illegal immigration resettlement and redirect those funds to areas [hit by the hurricane](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/10/02/car-industry-choke-point-us-hurricane-microchip-mine/),” he said. “Put Americans first.”
**Read more from The Telegraph:** [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2024/10/04/trump-money-hurricane-relief-spent-migrants/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2024/10/04/trump-money-hurricane-relief-spent-migrants/)
Those folks in Appalachia aren’t voting for Kamala anyway, so fuck’em.
If this crap chaps your butt, vote for a new direction in November. Vote Trump/Vance!