A new report reveals how federal coronavirus funds are being used in Washington state to provide $1,000 checks to undocumented immigrants who were ineligible for federal economic impact benefits due to their immigration status during the pandemic. It is clear what was given.
A report by the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) points to funds administered by the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Reconstruction Fund (SLFRF). The fund was created under the American Rescue Plan Act and is designed to help state and local governments rebuild their finances. COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery.
Washington State received a total of $4.4 billion in funding from this program.
The group’s report, which calls for a smaller federal government, highlights how $340 million in funding was used for a program that sends $1,000 checks to undocumented immigrants in the state.
The fund was approved by the Washington State Legislature in April 2021 to provide “new funding for undocumented Washington residents,” according to the impact report. on the program Said.
The Washington State COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund was first established in 2020 to provide checks to people who are ineligible for government assistance programs because of their immigration status.
Treasury documents confirm the state has since provided an additional $340 million. federal relief fund For the one-time cash grant, 10% of the funds were donated to the community-based organization running the program.
“The $340 million project is classified as a “cash transfer” expenditure under the SLFRF and has been approved by the State of Washington.
“This means the Biden administration has directly subsidized ‘illegal immigrants’ in the name of COVID-19 pandemic relief,” the EPIC report states.
The state previously announced it was investing $128 million in funds from the Trump administration’s CARES Act to help 120,000 immigrants who are ineligible for economic relief, but the money was based on applications received by the program. It was said that the number was not sufficient.
This fund is now ending, with the final payments to be made in early 2023.
government official The fund said it was an opportunity to “support those who may have been left out of other federal and state resources to deal with the economic impact of the pandemic.”
Center for Economic Policy Innovation Report highlights Several other projects related to illegal immigration that received federal funds include programs such as art, music, and dance classes for immigrants in Arizona and an expansion of a shelter in Massachusetts. ing.
“The Senate will release a supplementary budget that includes bipartisan agreement on the border. However, the government will use coronavirus funding from the SLFRF to provide cash assistance, housing, legal aid and other benefits to undocumented immigrants. By doing so, we are actively encouraging illegal immigration,” EPIC President and CEO Paul Winfrey told FOX News Digital.
Winfrey also emphasized that there is still $120 billion in unspent funds from the fund and called on lawmakers to halt these funds.
“Until Congress removes this funding, it will continue to act as a magnet for illegal immigrants,” he said.
The report comes amid continued concerns about the influx of illegal immigrants to the U.S. Congress, which is currently negotiating additional funding legislation that would include aid to communities hosting immigrants.
But Republicans aim to include restrictions on asylum and administration parole.
