Mayorkas warns of low funds for hurricane relief after FEMA spends $690M on migrant crisisisAmp: yesPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyWEATHERWATCHMayorkas warns of low funds for hurricane relief after FEMA spends $690M on migrant crisisby JACKSON WALKER | The National News DeskThursday, Oct 3rd 2024Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) and flooding aftermath from Hurricane Helene, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Marshall, N.C. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)WASHINGTON (TNND) —A warning by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Wednesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does not have enough funding to adequately respond to hurricanes came after the agency spent over $690 million this year to assist communities with influxes of migrants.ADVERTISEMENTThe Category 4 Hurricane Helene made landfall last week, wreaking havoc across the southeast U.S. The storm killed more than 200 people across multiple states, making it one of the deadliest in U.S. history.Read MoreMayorkas during a press gaggle aboard Air Force One Wednesday suggested FEMA would be strapped for cash should hurricane season lead to more damage across the U.S.We — we are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have,” he said. “We are expecting another hurricane hitting. We do not have the funds. FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season and what — what is imminent.”The agency has spent $690.9 million this year to “enable non-federal entities to off-set allowable costs incurred for services associated with noncitizen migrant arrivals in their communities,” according to FEMA’s fiscal year 2024 awards. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott slammed the secretary over the findings in a post via X.“This is easy,” he jeered. “Mayorkas and FEMA — immediately stop spending money on illegal immigration resettlement and redirect those funds to areas hit by the hurricane. Put Americans first.”Gov. Abbott was cheered on by X owner Elon Musk, who responded to the governor's post with "yeah!"Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., also expressed frustration over the subject via X, claiming the Biden-Harris administration has "abandoned" Americans."Kamala's America LAST administration took almost $1 BILLION of YOUR MONEY, which had been allocated to FEMA for disaster relief, and used it to house illegal aliens invading our country," she wrote. "Never forget!"Mayorkas in June said the agency was prepared for extreme hurricanes, but called on Congress to provide more money to its relief fund.We expect the disaster relief fund, which is the critical fund that we use to resource impacted communities, we expect it will run out by mid-August. And we need Congress to fund the disaster relief fund," he said.Congress most recently slid FEMA $20 billion through a short-term bill to fund the government through Dec. 20. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Tuesday said the funds are more than enough for FEMA to manage the hurricanes.Mayorkas admitted while testifying to Congress in April the country’s southern border is in “crisis.”“Congresswoman, I do understand the challenges at the border,” he told Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa. “I certainly don’t dance around them, as a matter of fact.”“Would you call it at a crisis at the southern border?” Rep. Hinson fired back.“Yes, I would,” Mayorkas said. “And as a matter of fact, I work every single day with the men and women in the Department of Homeland Security to only strengthen the security of our southern border, as well as the northern border.”ADVERTISEMENTFollow Jackson Walker on X at @_jlwalker_ for the latest trending national news. Have a news tip? Send it to jacwalker@sbgtv.com.View This Story on Our SiteLoad more...© 2025 Sinclair, Inc.Terms & ConditionsCopyright NoticesFCC InfoFCC ApplicationsPublic File AssistanceContactNews TeamContests
Then Republicans shouldn't have voted against the bipartisan immigration reform bill nor voted against funding FEMA. It's like they hate this country and it's people.