Trump administration rescinds Denver grants worth $24 million for migrant shelters, following through on threat

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will no longer pay Denver about million in promised grant money to cover what the city already spent to shelter displaced persons according to a letter sent this month The Department of Homeland Safeguard consistent with President Trump s direction is focused on advancing the essential mission of enforcing immigration laws and securing the edge says the letter obtained by The Denver Post The city received the notice April but it wasn t made society until it was cited during a City Council presentation by the city s Department of Finance Monday afternoon In response to a question from Councilwoman Shontel Lewis Budget Director Justin Sykes mentioned the letter and explained the department hasn t included canceled or possibly canceled federal grant dollars as it develops the upcoming city budget FEMA awarded Denver million but has sent only about million leaving about million unfulfilled It s unclear if federal executives will also require Denver to return the money the federal governing body already gave the city Denver intended to use the FEMA dollars to help offset what it spent to temporarily shelter an influx of about movers who arrived in the city between late and including a multitude of sent by Texas Gov Greg Abbott The city which is counting on about million in federal dollars for its budget is following funding threats from the federal establishment closely Sykes mentioned Since taking office in January President Donald Trump has threatened to withhold federal money of different kinds from cities seen as too supportive of undocumented immigrants New York also received a letter from FEMA on April terminating million in grants according to The New York Times Elsewhere the Justice Department is suing Chicago over its policies that limit cooperation with immigration officers While Denver s budget will undoubtedly take a hit from the loss of the FEMA funding it won t be felt straightaway because the city wasn t expecting a reimbursement for several years city spokesperson Jon Ewing advised The Post Earlier FEMA which is under the Department of Homeland Shield sent city authorities a letter in March threatening to withhold the dollars and accusing the city of using the money for illegal exercises The agency also required Denver to provide detailed information about whom it helped shelter The city was already required to provide specific of that information for the original grant application but did so again in response to the request Ewing noted The letter signed by acting FEMA administrator Cameron Hamilton disclosed the agency is terminating the payments because the award is not consistent with the department s priorities Related Articles Denver soccer stadium deal moves to full council after owners mayor s office appear to assuage concerns How should Denver spend million Residents pitch bond ideas for street repaving parks and rec centers Denver releases new details for million equestrian complex plan at National Western Center Denver inches toward sidewalk improvements with million contract which includes master plan Denver restaurateur who complained about downtown says Mayor Mike Johnston really heard Grant programs that advocacy or have the prospective to encouragement illegal immigration through funding illegal sessions or encouragement for illegal aliens that is not consistent with DHS s enforcement focus do not effectuate the agency s current priorities according to the letter The grant dollars were part of FEMA s Shelter and Services Activity which Congress authorizes The scheme directs FEMA to help non-federal entities that are sheltering noncitizen foreigners following their release from the Department of Homeland Safeguard The Trump administration hasn t sent the city any other specific threats to pull back grant dollars Ewing reported Trump signed two executive orders related to his crackdown on refugees Monday including one that directs state and federal representatives to publish lists of sanctuary city jurisdictions according to the Associated Press The other expands law enforcement operations to make it easier to detain displaced persons Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter The Spot