A Republican-led House committee on Wednesday subpoenaed Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra after he refused to turn over information about taxpayer-subsidized housing for immigrants.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asked Becerra in July about housing assistance funds and referrals provided to border crossers by HHS's Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). asked to answer the questions posed.
“[S]Since July 2024, we have been requesting information regarding ORR's coordination with the Departments of State, Housing and Urban Development, and Homeland Security to use taxpayer dollars to pay housing assistance to domestic foreign nationals.'' wrote Mr. Jordan.
“The committee also requested information about ORR's relationship with Church World Services and the organization's Refugee Housing Solution, which allows foreign nationals to connect with housing resources.”
Law enforcement officials have been communicating with ORR about the requested records since the summer, but on Oct. 4 they received a seven-page document that “contains nothing of substance; It is not possible to cover all relevant documents and communications in HHS's possession or control.'' Letter memo.
Jordan requested the records by Oct. 30, saying, “Failure to provide the requested materials will impede the commission's ability to fulfill its constitutional oversight duties.”
Over the past three and a half years, immigrants from all over the world have flooded into the United States in search of economic opportunity, many receiving a boost from taxpayer-funded federal, state and local programs.
In New York City alone, total spending on services for immigrants such as housing, food, and health care has already exceeded $5 billion since the start of fiscal year 2023.
Historic hotels like the Roosevelt in Midtown and hotels near tourist destinations like Broadway have been converted into emergency shelters for asylum seekers.
Earlier this year, some immigrants at Roosevelt were also issued monthly prepaid credit cards with a $35 per diem allowance, totaling $53 million for the pilot program.
Jordan's committee previously A report has been published In July, it cataloged a series of other federal benefits programs for housing, food, and health care available to immigrants entering the United States.
The Immigration and Refugee Program for Church World Service is run by Erol Kekich, a critic of the Trump administration's refugee, asylum, and border policies.
Under President Biden, Mr. Kekic's group has helped resettle many immigrants from border states such as Texas to so-called “sanctuary” cities such as New York.
HHS officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
