Federal government allocated $26.5B for programs serving illegal migrants: Report
WASHINGTON, DC: A review from DataRepublican.com found that, through January 2025, the federal government issued 1,272 awards worth a total of $26.5 billion for migrant resettlement and related programs. The findings highlight the scale of federal spending on migrant services and add to the ongoing debate over how much taxpayer money was allocated to such programs under the Biden administration.
The review examined funding for migrant resettlement and the Office of Refugee Resettlement, identifying 217 active contracts worth $5.2 billion out of the 1,272 awards. The data covers awards issued through January 2025. However, not all the funding was allocated during the Biden administration or went directly to non-governmental organizations (NGOs). While the report outlines the allocation of funds, it does not specify when each amount was spent or identify every recipient of the total funding.
Report details billions in migrant-related funding
A report pointed out that $3.4 billion in active contracts goes toward caring for unaccompanied children in the federal system. On top of that, there’s $544 million set aside to help states support migrants who are already here and in the system.
There's another $1.2 billion connected to Office of Refugee Resettlement grants that officials already handed out. The review also found a separate $5 million program still operating because a court ordered it.
Taken together, these numbers paint a clear picture of how much money the government pours into migrant services.
The Trump administration is now taking a close look at this spending, which it inherited from earlier policies. In September, the White House outlined nearly $1 billion in wasted tax dollars spent on migrants.
The White House recently launched a new initiative to eliminate wasteful and harmful spending and pledged to “cut wasteful and harmful government spending that does not benefit American citizens.”
“Last year, President Trump took the historic step of utilizing long-neglected Presidential authorities provided to him under the Impoundment Control Act to deploy the first ‘pocket rescission’ in 50 years,” the White House said. “This year, he is continuing his commitment to the American taxpayer by utilizing a pocket rescission for another nearly $1 billion of the most harmful government spending.”
Trump administration moves to cancel awards
The Trump administration has also canceled 63 awards, worth a total of $186 million.
The White House said President Trump tapped into the Impoundment Control Act to push for spending cuts, framing this move as a way to protect taxpayers and cut wasteful spending that doesn’t help Americans.
Yet, ongoing contracts show the push for immediate cuts runs into real obstacles. Some funding still goes to children already under federal care.
Other grants support states or went out in earlier rounds. At least one program keeps operating because a court ordered it. That $26.5 billion figure doesn’t mean every dollar funded illegal migration, got misused, or landed in the hands of NGOs. The numbers out there don’t break it down award by award, nor do they pin down exactly how much got spent during Biden’s term.
