House Judiciary Committee has escalated its inquiry into HHS migrant housing funding.
At a Glance
- Chairman Jim Jordan subpoenas HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra for migrant housing details.
- The committee demands documents by October 30 due to inadequate responses.
- Rising migrant-related costs strain local and federal resources.
- Significant expenses in NYC, with $5 billion spent on migrant services.
Committee Pursues Transparency from HHS
The House Judiciary Committee, under Jim Jordan’s leadership, issued a subpoena to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. The request targets records concerning taxpayer-funded housing assistance managed by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Since July 2024, Jordan has been seeking concrete information about ORR’s coordination with various departments. The subpoena aims to uncover details about taxpayer dollars used for housing migrants.
Despite several requests, only seven pages of insufficient documentation were received. Jordan emphasized that these gaps hinder the committee’s constitutional oversight duties and demands the materials by October 30.
The Biden Administration has lost track of at least 85,000 unaccompanied alien children.
We issued a subpoena to Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra for relevant documents and information about these children.
To date, HHS’s compliance with the subpoena is insufficient.…
— House Judiciary GOP 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryGOP) May 24, 2024
Financial Strains Exemplified in NYC
Local governments are exhibiting financial strain due to increasing migrant numbers. New York City is a primary example, with over $5 billion spent for services to migrants since fiscal year 2023. The city has repurposed historic hotels into emergency shelters for asylum seekers. Additionally, a pilot program distributed prepaid credit cards, accumulating a $53 million cost.
“The failure to provide the requested material hinders the Committee’s ability to fulfill its constitutional oversight obligations,” declared Jim Jordan.
Migrants flock to the U.S. seeking economic opportunities, straining federal and local resources. Federal programs, supported by taxpayers, remain a contentious topic among lawmakers.
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan has issued a subpoena that orders HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to provide records related to the placement of migrant children and the vetting of adult sponsors. pic.twitter.com/w2V05Elmfw
— Hannah Dreier (@hannahdreier) January 23, 2024
Oversight and Legislative Implications
The Judiciary Committee continues its oversight of the Biden Administration’s enforcement of federal immigration law, focusing on the ORR. The issue extends to unaccompanied alien children (UACs), with the subpoena requesting data on UAC placements and sponsor vetting. Since June 2023, HHS responses have been inadequate.
“Broad and indispensable,” the Supreme Court affirmed Congress’s power to conduct oversight, enabling inquiries into administrative systems and legislative reforms.
The Committee’s findings aim to influence potential legislative changes, including vetting UACs and sponsors thoroughly while setting new standards for known gang members. These efforts underscore the Republican-led committee’s commitment to tightening immigration-related policies.
