New York City has sued the Trump administration for recouping $80.5 million of grants intended to cover part of the city’s cost of housing migrants.
A complaint, filed on February 21st, in a Manhattan federal court , after the city noticed the missing funds from the city’s bank account, states that the city denied allegations of misusing the funds and asserted that the February 11th “money grab” undermined Congress’ intent in allocating the money.
On February 12th, Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, shared a statement on X involving the federal government seizing funds, which reads:
“I have clawed back the full payment that FEMA deep state activists unilaterally gave to NYC migrant hotels.”
According to Reuters, Noem and a FEMA official claimed that the city improperly utilized FEMA funds to convert the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan into a shelter for migrants, and permitted the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to operate from the hotel.
The city seeks the return of $80.5 million and an injunction to stop the federal government from any other any similar actions to reclaim funds.
(L): Photograph image of a migrant family in New York City; Photo Credit: Todd Heisler/The New York Times; and (R): Cots displayed at a migrant respite center, called Judo, in Astoria, Queens; Photo Credit: Emily Ngo/Politico
President Donald Trump has accused FEMA of wasting taxpayer money in Democratic-led areas. New York City’s Democratic mayor, Eric Adams, said the cost of fixing the immigration system should not overwhelmingly fall on the city alone.
According to Adams, “the $80 million that FEMA approved, paid and then rescinded – after the city spent more than $7 billion in the last three years – is the bare minimum our taxpayers deserve.”
So far, the White House hasn’t respond to the lawsuit. The lawsuit comes in the aftermath of Trump’s Department of Justice orders to dismiss Adam’s criminal corruption charges to free him to aid in cracking down on illegal immigration in New York City.
According to CBS News, the order is not official just yet, for it still has to be approved by the judge overseeing the case.
