Washington State’s Controversial Use of Federal COVID-19 Funds for Illegal Immigrants

The Washington State COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund, established in 2020, has been a subject of controversy due to its use of federal COVID-19 funds to provide financial assistance to illegal immigrants. The fund, which was created under the American Rescue Plan Act, was intended to help state and local governments respond and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Washington state received $4.4 billion in funding overall from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF).

However, a significant portion of these funds, approximately $340 million, was used to provide one-time cash grants of $1,000 to illegal immigrants who were ineligible for federal economic impact payments due to their immigration status. The Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund was first set up in 2020 to grant checks to those ineligible for government assistance programs due to their immigration status. Treasury documents confirm that the state has since provided an extra $340 million in federal relief funds for the one-time cash grants.

The report from the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) highlights that the $340 million project is categorized as a ‘cash transfer’ expenditure under the SLFRF, approved for the State of Washington. This means the Biden Administration directly subsidized ‘undocumented’ immigration under the guise of COVID-19 pandemic relief. The state said that it had previously invested $128 million of funding from the Trump-era CARES Act for 120,000 immigrants who did not qualify for economic relief, but the funding was not sufficient for the number of applications the program received.

The fund has now ended, with the last payments going out in early 2023. State officials said the fund was an opportunity ‘to help people who may have been left out of other federal and state resources to address the economic impact of the pandemic.’ However, critics argue that the use of federal funds for illegal immigrants is a misappropriation of funds and a violation of federal law.

The Economic Policy Innovation Center report also highlights several other projects related to illegal immigration for which federal funds were used, including programs in Arizona for art, music and dance classes for migrants and expansion of shelters in Massachusetts. The Senate is currently negotiating a supplemental funding bill, which would include aid to communities receiving migrants. However, Republicans have sought to include restrictions on asylum and the administration’s use of parole.

The controversy surrounding the use of federal COVID-19 funds for illegal immigrants comes amid continued concern about the flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. The Biden Administration has been criticized for its handling of the border crisis, with record numbers of encounters in December 2023, totaling 302,000. The administration has been actively encouraging illegal immigration by using COVID money from the SLFRF to provide cash assistance, housing, legal aid, and other benefits to undocumented immigrants.

The use of federal funds for illegal immigrants has sparked a heated debate, with some arguing that it is a violation of federal law and a misappropriation of funds, while others argue that it is a necessary response to the humanitarian crisis at the border. The issue is likely to remain a contentious one in the coming months, with both sides continuing to make their case to the public and to lawmakers.

The Economic Policy Innovation Center report calls on lawmakers to stop those funds and claw back the money, arguing that it will continue to serve as a magnet for illegal immigration until Congress takes action. The report also highlights the importance of enforcing immigration laws and securing the border to prevent the flow of illegal immigrants into the country.

In conclusion, the use of federal COVID-19 funds for illegal immigrants in Washington state has been a subject of controversy and debate. While some argue that it is a necessary response to the humanitarian crisis at the border, others view it as a violation of federal law and a misappropriation of funds. The issue is likely to remain a contentious one in the coming months, with both sides continuing to make their case to the public and to lawmakers. It is important for lawmakers to take action to address the issue and ensure that federal funds are being used in accordance with the law and for their intended purpose.