By Rafael Carranza
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will distribute $12.2 million more in reserve funding for nonprofits and local governments providing humanitarian assistance along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Arizona entities will get almost $2.3 million of that amount, the agency announced Wednesday.
The money comes from funds that Congress set aside as part of FEMA's Shelter and Services Program. Nonprofits and local governments can use the money to cover their expenses for providing transportation and housing to migrants that U.S. border and immigration agencies have released in border communities.
Pima County, which distributes funds to nonprofits in southern Arizona such as Catholic Community Services' Casa Alitas, received $1.1 million. World Hunger Ecumenical Task Force, which distributes funds to nonprofits in the Phoenix area like the International Rescue Committee's Welcome Center, will receive nearly $1.2 million.
Reps. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., praised the announcements about the funding for border communities. But they insisted that it is not enough.
"Once again, the failures of the federal government have left border states and communities in the red,” Stanton said in a statement. “Congress must pass the President’s $4 billion supplemental funding request — which includes $600 million to replenish the Shelter and Services Program.”
Gallego said the funding was a step in the right direction, but that the situation required a greater response at the national level.
"This funding acknowledges the importance of Arizona and border states, but it is not enough. They deserve the requisite resources to keep our communities safe and manage increases in migrant crossings," Gallego said. "I’ll continue to fight to secure every available dollar.”
The majority of the reserve funding announced on Wednesday, nearly $7 million, will go to local governments and nonprofits in Texas. Those in New Mexico will get $1.8 million, and in California they will receive $1.5 million.
The Shelter and Services Program has distributed nearly $380 million in funding to nonprofits and local governments providing humanitarian aid to migrants released in the country. The funding formulas have come under greater scrutiny because the program allows nonprofits and local governments in the country's interior to also apply for the money.
Approximately $182 million of funding disbursed through the SSP has gone to communities in the interior of the country, raising criticism from border communities and elected officials that they are getting short-changed amid concerns they may run out of money next year to provide services to migrants.
Migrant encounters along the U.S.-Mexico border have increased over the past two months. In August, U.S. border agents and officers encountered more than 232,000 migrants, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Border Patrol agents have resumed street releases in southern Arizona and in other parts of the southern U.S. border given the increase and the lack of holding space at their facilities.