Catholic Charities of San Antonio is facing a funding crisis that could lead to the closure of its Migrant Resource Center during the evening and overnight hours if it does not receive additional federal funding targeted at supporting asylum-seekers. The nonprofit has used most of the $55 million it received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency program in the prior fiscal year to provide temporary shelter, food, clothing, legal services, counseling, and transportation to over 220,000 individuals. With only $5.7 million left, the organization may need to reduce operating hours to ensure it can continue to provide services during the day for the rest of the year.
Despite requests from cities, counties, and states for more funding to handle the influx of migrants entering the US, Congress reduced FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program funding to $650 million, a 20% decrease from the previous year. Lawmakers have not provided any additional support to the program since late 2023. San Antonio Rep. Joaquin Castro emphasized that immigration is a federal responsibility and expressed concern about asylum-seekers being left on the streets if funding is not increased to support organizations like Catholic Charities.
The San Antonio charity is awaiting confirmation of funding for the current fiscal year and its CEO has petitioned FEMA for additional funds. Even if the money arrives in time to keep the center open 24/7, the organization anticipates having to scale back services and possibly reduce staff. This could slow processing times for new arrivals and jeopardize the safety of those temporarily staying at the welcome center. Cities and counties across the US are already struggling to handle the surge of migrants at the US-Mexico border, further complicating the situation.
The reduced FEMA funding has broader implications for municipalities and states, as GOP Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been sending migrants to Democratic-led cities in recent years. The funding cut comes at a time when Senate Republicans are blocking a bipartisan border deal that would have given the president more authority to address illegal migrant crossings at the southern border. The Department of Homeland Security acknowledges that the limited funding will not meet the demand for assistance and calls on Congress to pass additional border security funding.
Counties are likely to divert resources from other programs to compensate for the reduction in FEMA funding, impacting essential services like law enforcement, emergency services, healthcare, and sanitation. Mayors in cities like Mesa, Arizona, are preparing for an influx of migrants and are exploring options to ensure humanitarian assistance, even in the face of reduced federal funding. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg has been advocating for additional funding to support migrants and is considering alternative sources, such as Covid-19 relief funds, to address the shortfall in assistance.
