Rep. Mike Levin Leads Letter to Department of Homeland Security to Release Shelter and Services Program Funding
Washington, DC - Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) led a letter signed by fellow Members of San Diego’s Congressional delegation – Reps. Scott Peters (CA-50), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Juan Vargas (CA-52) – to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging DHS to release available funding for the Shelter and Services Program (SSP) under Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Continuing Resolutions (CR). The SSP is vital in supporting local San Diego County organizations and other local partners that provide critical assistance to migrants.
“SSP provides critical assistance to local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and partners as they support migrant communities seeking shelter, food, and other resources,” explains the letter. “The greater San Diego region that we represent has always welcomed individuals seeking asylum, refuge, and protections in our country with dignity and respect. While we all agree serious reforms to our nation’s immigration system are long overdue, the growth of displacement amidst heightened global conflicts and worsening impacts of climate change have made our local NGOs and partners increasingly reliant on SSP funding to buttress their work to ensure migrant populations have access to basic human needs.”
“While we understand the FY24 appropriations bills have been delayed several times due to Republican dysfunction, causing confusion and uncertainty regarding the final amount of FY24 CR SSP funding, we nonetheless urge you to create a plan to disperse available FY24 CR SSP funding to eligible recipients as soon as possible,” continues the letter. “Our partners and communities desperately need the help.”
Click here or read the full letter below:
Dear Secretary Mayorkas,
We write to urge you to expeditiously release Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Shelter and Services Program (SSP) funding.
SSP provides critical assistance to local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and partners as they support migrant communities seeking shelter, food, and other resources. The greater San Diego region that we represent has always welcomed individuals seeking asylum, refuge, and protections in our country with dignity and respect. While we all agree serious reforms to our nation’s immigration system are long overdue, the growth of displacement amidst heightened global conflicts and worsening impacts of climate change have made our local NGOs and partners increasingly reliant on SSP funding to buttress their work to ensure migrant populations have access to basic human needs.
Our region hosts two migrant shelters, managed by Jewish Family Service and Catholic Charities, and a migrant processing center which combine to serve as a model for other communities receiving migrants across the country. The success of these Centers is driven by strong partnerships with local, state, and federal authorities. Unfortunately, due to the lack of consistent funding support, the processing center will be closed on February 22nd and the migrant shelters are now limited to caring only for migrants within certain protected classes such as families and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
As you know, $800 million was allocated for SSP under Public Law 117-328, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. We understand that funding for SSP under three FY24 Continuing Resolutions (CR) – Public Law 118-15, the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2024 and Other Extensions Act; Public Law 118-22, Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act of 2024; and Public Law 118-35, Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act of 2024 – is available to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on a pro rata basis, but that no decision has been made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), CBP, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on how such funding will be used during the CR period.
While we understand the FY24 appropriations bills have been delayed several times due to Republican dysfunction, causing confusion and uncertainty regarding the final amount of FY24 CR SSP funding, we nonetheless urge you to create a plan to disperse available FY24 CR SSP funding to eligible recipients as soon as possible. Our partners and communities desperately need the help.
Thank you again for your attention to this pressing matter and we look forward to your response.
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