Immigration

Trump Wants “Emergency” Funding For His Border Fiasco

Written by SK Ashby

The Trump regime is struggling to keep up with the increasingly large number of immigrants they're locking up and, to that end, the White House has asked Congress for more money.

At least some of the money may be used for legitimate purposes, but Trump is also asking for more money to expand indefinite detention.

From Politico:

President Donald Trump on Wednesday asked Congress for $4.5 billion in emergency aid to address the surge of Central American immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. [...]

The Trump administration is seeking $3.3 billion in humanitarian assistance — one area that has attracted bipartisan support.

But Trump also wants $1.1 billion for border operations like detention beds. The administration’s request includes money for an additional 23,600 beds — a polarizing issue for House Democrats and a sticking point in the shutdown battle.

Trump's expanded use of indefinite detention and his policy of arresting every immigrant they can get their hands on is what's causing funding shortages in the first place.

There is no emergency here except one of Trump's own making which he could also unmake.

And speaking of emergencies, Trump declared an emergency and ordered federal agencies to redirect funding to build his fantasy border wall; funding that could be used the plug the holes he has created for himself. Trump's new request for $4.5 billion in funding from Congress is less than what he has ordered federal agencies to redirect.

Congress may pass an emergency funding bill to provide food and health care for immigrants already locked up by Trump, but I doubt House Democrats will include funding that could be used to expand indefinite detention.

House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) said Democrats would carefully review the request but expressed some initial skepticism.

“The Trump administration appears to want much of this $4.5 billion emergency supplemental request to double down on cruel and ill-conceived policies, including bailing out ICE for overspending on detention beds and expanding family detention,” she said in a statement. “Locking up people who pose no threat to the community for ever-longer periods of time is not a solution to the problems at the border.“