Latest news with #ShelterandServices
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE Barbie Reveals Plan to Splurge FEMA Cash on Bonkers ‘Alligator Alcatraz' Detention Center
The Trump administration plans to use funds from an otherwise gutted disaster-relief agency to build a migrant detention center that'll be surrounded by alligators and pythons. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, nicknamed ICE Barbie after her penchant for cosplaying as an immigration agent, announced on X Monday night that her department has been working at 'turbo speed' to deliver on President Donald Trump's mass deportation drive. A brainchild of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, the center will mostly comprise a number of large tents set up on a remote airfield in the Everglades, which Uthmeier has said will require minimal security given the site is surrounded by dangerous wildlife. The plan fits neatly with the tenor of Trump's immigration crackdown, which has already seen migrants detained at Guantanamo Bay, notorious for the torture of Islamic terror suspects, and the COCET facility, a Salvadoran megaprison likened by critics to a concentration camp. It also echoes pledges made during Trump's first term in office, when he spoke repeatedly and at length about wanting to build a razor-topped wall and 'moat' along the U.S. border with Mexico, filling the latter with snakes and alligators to ward asylum seekers off making the already perilous crossing. 'These new facilities will in large part be funded by [the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA)] Shelter and Services program, which the Biden administration used as a piggy bank to spend hundreds of millions of American taxpayer dollars to house illegal aliens,' Noem added in her Monday post. Popular among the MAGA base, that's a claim that dates back to the Hurricane Helene relief efforts last October. Trump said then, in statements amplified by Elon Musk and other supporters, that the Biden-Harris administration had no money left to support victims of the disaster because 'they spent it all on illegal migrants.' The then-presidential candidate's suggestion that money for disaster relief had been spent on housing undocumented migrants did not stand up to scrutiny. FEMA, a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), had administered payments to New York City to provide lodging for immigrants, but from a separate fund appropriated by Congress specifically for that purpose. In an ironic twist, Trump had during his first presidency already done exactly what he accused Biden of doing. In 2019, he took $271 million from DHS programs, including $155 million from the FEMA disaster fund, to meet the costs of additional detention facilities for asylum seekers attempting to cross the southern border. Since assuming office for the second time in January, the president has nevertheless now embarked on a cost-cutting crusade to significantly scale back, if not outright eliminate, FEMA. Battered as the United States is each year by hurricanes and other extreme weather events, the rationale behind gutting the United States' chief disaster relief agency has not been entirely clear, beyond Trump's desire 'to give out less money' as part of his administration's wider crackdown on 'wasteful' federal spending.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz': Krishti Noem spills beans to use federal funds to build 'terrifying' detention center
In Florida, officials have started constructing a migrant detention facility dubbed as 'Alligator Alcatraz' which will be funded by US Department of Homeland Security. We will expand facilities and bed space in just days, thanks to our partnership with Florida, said Krishti Noem. The move comes amid a broader effort by Republican-led states to assist the Trump administration in implementing its mass deportation agenda. The proposal was floated by James Uthmeier last week who said an abandoned Everglades airfield will be turned into a detention center for immigrants with criminal records, nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz." Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Florida's Alligator Alcatraz Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Florida has begun building a detention centre- dubbed the ' Alligator Alcatraz ' - to temporarily hold migrants on an air strip in the Everglades. The Trump administration has revealed its plans to use funds from an otherwise gutted disaster-relief agency to build the detention centre that will be surrounded by alligators and of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the facility would be funded "in large part" by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's shelter and services programme. In a social media post on X, Noem said her department has been working at "turbo speed" to deliver on President Donald Trump's mass deportation drive.'These new facilities will in large part be funded by [the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA)] Shelter and Services program, which the Biden administration used as a piggy bank to spend hundreds of millions of American taxpayer dollars to house illegal aliens,' Noem added in her Monday said the detention facilities in Florida will be funded "in large part" by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's shelter and services program. Proposed by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, the detention center will mostly comprise a number of large tents set up on a remote airfield in the DHS Secretary Krishti Noem said the federal government will fund Florida's plan to establish immigration detention centers, including the proposed "Alligator Alcatraz" site in the Everglades. "Under President Trump's leadership, we are working at turbo speed on cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver on the American people's mandate for mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens," Noem told CBS News."We will expand facilities and bed space in just days, thanks to our partnership with Florida."The proposal was floated by James Uthmeier last week who said an abandoned Everglades airfield will be turned into a detention center for immigrants with criminal records, nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz." The plan has been criticised by several lawmakers, including the mayor of Miami-Dade County, who argued it could be environmentally "devastating". The proposal comes as Trump tries to deliver on a campaign pledge to ramp up deportations of illegal said the site's natural surroundings serve as a strong deterrent, warning that detainees trying to flee would face alligators and pythons with nowhere to hide. On Monday, Uthmeier announced federal approval for Florida's plan to build Alligator Alcatraz and other sites, which could hold up to 5,000 detainees and begin operating as temporary facilities early next announced the federal government had "approved" the state's plan to build "Alligator Alcatraz" and other facilities that he said could collectively house as many as 5,000 detainees, reports CBS News. He said the facilities could start receiving detainees early next month, calling them temporary."There's really nowhere to go. If you're housed there, if you're detained there, there's no way in, no way out," Uthmeier said in an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, describing the "Alligator Alcatraz" charged with overseeing disaster relief efforts, FEMA is an agency within the Department of Homeland Security that has faced significant cuts under the second Trump the Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement across the United States, it continues to receive strong support from state officials in Republican-led states such as Louisiana, Texas, and Florida. In Texas, for example, members of the state's National Guard have been deputized to act as immigration officers, granting them the authority to enforce federal immigration Monday, Florida Chief of Staff James Uthmeier issued a statement reaffirming the state's commitment to cooperating with federal immigration efforts.'Florida will stand shoulder to shoulder with this administration to keep our state safe, strong, and free,' Uthmeier said. 'I'm proud to support President Trump and Secretary Noem in their mission to resolve the illegal immigration crisis. Facilities like 'Alligator Alcatraz' and others across Florida will play a key role in achieving that goal.'
CNN
12-02-2025
- Business
- CNN
DHS fires four FEMA officials over payments to NYC to house migrants
The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that it fired four Federal Emergency Management Agency officials over payments provided to New York City to house migrants, arguing without evidence that the officials circumvented leadership. The firings come after Elon Musk, who's running President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency and its efforts to dismantle some federal agencies, accused FEMA on X early Monday of violating the law by sending $59 million to New York last week and said his DOGE team will demand the money back. The tech billionaire suggested earlier this week that the agency may be one of his next targets, writing on X, 'FEMA is broken.' The payments appear to stem from an existing program that was the target of Republican attacks during the 2024 presidential campaign. The Shelter and Services Program is administered by FEMA, in partnership with US Customs and Border Protection, to aid cities sheltering migrants. It is a separate pot of money unrelated to disaster relief. In fiscal year 2024, Congress appropriated $650 million for the program, according to the agency. New York City is among its recipients after grappling with a surge of migrants in recent years. The city received $119 million in federal funds, including $81 million last week, according to a City Hall spokesperson. Some of that went to direct hotel costs. The city has $37 million left to claim, the spokesperson said. 'The Adams administration has not received any information or request asking for any money back or about any claw back process. The administration is in direct contact with the White House about the funding and seeking more information,' a City Hall official told CNN. Former Homeland Security officials told CNN that generally cities identify the lodging and later submit for reimbursement. 'There's a whole set of guardrails around it to make sure it's administered according to the law,' one former DHS official said. In a statement, a Homeland Security spokesperson said: 'Effective immediately, FEMA is terminating the employment of four individuals for circumventing leadership to unilaterally make egregious payments for luxury NYC hotels for migrants.' FEMA's chief financial officer, two program analysts and a grant specialist were among those who were fired. CNN reached out to DHS for additional information on what the employees did that amounted to circumventing leadership and if the payments fell under the existing Shelter and Services program. The Homeland Security spokesperson said more information would be provided when available. Trump's team has suggested doing away with FEMA. When touring North Carolina flood damage last month, Trump floated eliminating FEMA, which he's criticized as bureaucratic and slow in its rescue responses. He suggested he may soon abolish the agency and instead send money directly to states to manage their own disaster relief efforts. And DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who has oversight of FEMA, told CNN on Sunday that she would support ending 'FEMA the way it exists today' should the president ask her.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DHS fires four FEMA officials over payments to NYC to house migrants
The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that it fired four Federal Emergency Management Agency officials over payments provided to New York City to house migrants, arguing without evidence that the officials circumvented leadership. The firings come after Elon Musk, who's running President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency and its efforts to dismantle some federal agencies, accused FEMA on X early Monday of violating the law by sending $59 million to New York last week and said his DOGE team will demand the money back. The tech billionaire suggested earlier this week that the agency may be one of his next targets, writing on X, 'FEMA is broken.' The payments appear to stem from an existing program that was the target of Republican attacks during the 2024 presidential campaign. The Shelter and Services Program is administered by FEMA, in partnership with US Customs and Border Protection, to aid cities sheltering migrants. It is a separate pot of money unrelated to disaster relief. In fiscal year 2024, Congress appropriated $650 million for the program, according to the agency. New York City is among its recipients after grappling with a surge of migrants in recent years. The city received $119 million in federal funds, including $81 million last week, according to a City Hall spokesperson. Some of that went to direct hotel costs. The city has $37 million left to claim, the spokesperson said. 'The Adams administration has not received any information or request asking for any money back or about any claw back process. The administration is in direct contact with the White House about the funding and seeking more information,' a City Hall official told CNN. Former Homeland Security officials told CNN that generally cities identify the lodging and later submit for reimbursement. 'There's a whole set of guardrails around it to make sure it's administered according to the law,' one former DHS official said. In a statement, a Homeland Security spokesperson said: 'Effective immediately, FEMA is terminating the employment of four individuals for circumventing leadership to unilaterally make egregious payments for luxury NYC hotels for migrants.' FEMA's chief financial officer, two program analysts and a grant specialist were among those who were fired. CNN reached out to DHS for additional information on what the employees did that amounted to circumventing leadership and if the payments fell under the existing Shelter and Services program. The Homeland Security spokesperson said more information would be provided when available. Trump's team has suggested doing away with FEMA. When touring North Carolina flood damage last month, Trump floated eliminating FEMA, which he's criticized as bureaucratic and slow in its rescue responses. He suggested he may soon abolish the agency and instead send money directly to states to manage their own disaster relief efforts. And DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who has oversight of FEMA, told CNN on Sunday that she would support ending 'FEMA the way it exists today' should the president ask her.
CNN
11-02-2025
- Business
- CNN
DHS fires four FEMA officials over payments to NYC to house migrants
The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that it fired four Federal Emergency Management Agency officials over payments provided to New York City to house migrants, arguing without evidence that the officials circumvented leadership. The firings come after Elon Musk, who's running President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency and its efforts to dismantle some federal agencies, accused FEMA on X early Monday of violating the law by sending $59 million to New York last week and said his DOGE team will demand the money back. The tech billionaire suggested earlier this week that the agency may be one of his next targets, writing on X, 'FEMA is broken.' The payments appear to stem from an existing program that was the target of Republican attacks during the 2024 presidential campaign. The Shelter and Services Program is administered by FEMA, in partnership with US Customs and Border Protection, to aid cities sheltering migrants. It is a separate pot of money unrelated to disaster relief. In fiscal year 2024, Congress appropriated $650 million for the program, according to the agency. New York City is among its recipients after grappling with a surge of migrants in recent years. The city received $119 million in federal funds, including $81 million last week, according to a City Hall spokesperson. Some of that went to direct hotel costs. The city has $37 million left to claim, the spokesperson said. 'The Adams administration has not received any information or request asking for any money back or about any claw back process. The administration is in direct contact with the White House about the funding and seeking more information,' a City Hall official told CNN. Former Homeland Security officials told CNN that generally cities identify the lodging and later submit for reimbursement. 'There's a whole set of guardrails around it to make sure it's administered according to the law,' one former DHS official said. In a statement, a Homeland Security spokesperson said: 'Effective immediately, FEMA is terminating the employment of four individuals for circumventing leadership to unilaterally make egregious payments for luxury NYC hotels for migrants.' FEMA's chief financial officer, two program analysts and a grant specialist were among those who were fired. CNN reached out to DHS for additional information on what the employees did that amounted to circumventing leadership and if the payments fell under the existing Shelter and Services program. The Homeland Security spokesperson said more information would be provided when available. Trump's team has suggested doing away with FEMA. When touring North Carolina flood damage last month, Trump floated eliminating FEMA, which he's criticized as bureaucratic and slow in its rescue responses. He suggested he may soon abolish the agency and instead send money directly to states to manage their own disaster relief efforts. And DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who has oversight of FEMA, told CNN on Sunday that she would support ending 'FEMA the way it exists today' should the president ask her.
