The Shelter and Services Program (SSP), a program authorized by Congress to aid communities providing services to migrants, is set to receive $300 million in grants. This decision was jointly announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - the federal agencies responsible for administering the SSP.
In a news release from DHS, it was revealed that $275 million will be provided in the first allocation, with the remaining $25 million to be distributed later in the year based on facility needs. The initial $275 million will be directed towards 55 grant recipients for temporary shelter services and associated costs of migrants during their immigration proceedings. Additionally, DHS plans to allocate $340.9 million through the SSP-Competitive grant program before the end of the current fiscal year.
Democratic Texas lawmakers Henry Cuellar, Joaquin Castro, and Greg Casar issued a joint statement regarding this development: "Because of the historic number of people being displaced from Latin America, this additional funding for shelter and services for migrants is a lifeline to the San Antonio and South Texas region," they said. "We have been in constant communication with Secretary Mayorkas and Administrator Criswell about the urgent need for this funding in San Antonio, and we thank them for their work in allocating the first tranche of FY24 funds quickly. We will continue working at all levels of government to ensure that the San Antonio region is equipped with the necessary resources to work with migrants traveling through our community."
According to another news release from DHS, most individuals attempting to cross the Southwest Border have been apprehended and returned to their countries of origin. From May 12, 2023, to April 3, 2024, over 660,000 individuals were removed from America – a total surpassing any fiscal year since 2011.
