Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) introduced a new bill Thursday that seeks to cut off federal funding to nonprofit organizations that assist illegal immigrants, marking the latest push by conservatives to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border.
The bill, known as the BARRIER Act—Blocking Assistance and Resources to Restrict Illegal Entry and Residency—was co-sponsored by several prominent Republicans, including Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Mary Miller (R-Ill.), Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), and Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.).
Gaetz, who is running for re-election, said the legislation is aimed at stopping federal grants from going to organizations that he claims help facilitate illegal immigration. “NGOs and non-profits serve as the foot soldiers for the Biden-Harris administration’s mass-migration policies by helping illegal aliens cross the border and stay here for years after illegally,” Gaetz said in a statement shared exclusively with Fox News. “My legislation, the BARRIER Act, will strip these organizations of their federal funding, which can be used to assist those who break federal law.”
The federal government should not be financing the destruction of its own country!
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and non-profits serve as the foot soldiers for the Biden-Harris administration’s mass-migration policies by helping illegal aliens cross the border and stay… pic.twitter.com/XRiqYFCcvH
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) October 3, 2024
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The bill would prevent nonprofits and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide aid to illegal immigrants from receiving federal funds, regardless of whether the immigrants are recent arrivals or have been in the U.S. for years.
If passed, organizations like the National Immigration Law Center, American Immigration Council, and CASA could lose their access to federal grants.
Gaetz and his fellow co-sponsors argue that the federal government should not be funding organizations that assist people living in the U.S. unlawfully. “The federal government should not be financing the destruction of its own country,” Gaetz said.
Illegal immigration has remained a significant issue for voters in the 2024 election cycle, with concerns about border security and crime rates driving much of the debate.
Data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently provided to lawmakers indicates that tens of thousands of illegal immigrants with criminal convictions, including for sex offenses and homicide, could be living in the U.S.
The Biden-Harris administration has faced criticism for its handling of the border crisis, particularly over its decision to release many migrants into the country’s interior.
Although deportations have increased in fiscal year 2023—rising to 142,580 removals, compared to 72,177 in 2022 and 59,011 in 2021—they remain significantly lower than during the Trump administration, when removals peaked at 267,258 in fiscal year 2019.
Meanwhile, the number of illegal immigrants on the nondetained docket has ballooned from 3.7 million in fiscal 2021 to over 7 million in fiscal 2023.
The BARRIER Act reflects the growing frustration among Republicans over the Biden administration’s immigration policies.
With the bill now introduced, it is expected to receive attention in the House of Representatives as the immigration debate continues to intensify ahead of the 2024 elections.
Read Matt Gaetz full press release below:
This week, in response to the unprecedented number of illegal aliens entering the United States under the Biden-Harris administration, U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) introduced the “Blocking Assistance and Resources to Restrict Illegal Entry and Residency (BARRIER) Act.” The legislation, if enacted, would cut off federal funding to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), non-profits, and other entities that help migrants illegally enter the U.S. or give assistance to migrants unlawfully residing here.
The legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Lauren Boebert (CO-03), Mary Miller (IL-15), Eric Burlison (MO-07), Randy Weber (TX-14), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Andy Ogles (TN-05), and Andy Biggs (AZ-05).
“NGOs and non-profits serve as the foot soldiers for the Biden-Harris administration’s mass-migration policies by helping illegal aliens cross the border and stay here for years after illegally. My legislation, the BARRIER Act, will strip these organizations of their federal funding, which can be used to assist those who break federal law. The federal government should not be financing the destruction of its own country,” said Congressman Gaetz.
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