In Letter to Congressional Leaders, Mayors Call for Additional Funding to Bolster Local Organizations Serving Asylum Seekers Along the Southern Border

Washington, DC – Today, in a letter to the leaders of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, 36 mayors from southern border states and several of their colleagues from other parts of the country urged Congress to add funding to the FY 2023 omnibus appropriations bill to boost the capacity of local organizations to respond to the increasing number of asylum seekers at the U.S./Mexico border.

In particular, mayors called for “an additional $500 million for [the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s] Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) and $300 million set aside for EFSP-Humanitarian Assistance.”

The letter was led by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, vice chair for border policy for the Conference’s Standing Committee for Criminal and Social Justice, and it went to Leader Chuck Schumer, Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Leader Kevin McCarthy.

“In many cities,” the mayors write, “local nonprofits and charities provide critical services to asylum seekers.” Additional monies “would boost local nonprofits’ ability to help asylum seekers who need food, shelter, and legal and travel assistance.” They also stress the timeliness of the request noting, “With the likely end of Title 42, even our most well-funded nonprofit partners will be overwhelmed, raising the urgency of this call to action.”

In June, the U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted a policy resolution in support of Congress providing “local governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) the necessary resources to address the humanitarian crisis at the southern border.”

The full text of today’s letter to the U.S. House and Senate leaders can be found here and below

Dear Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader McCarthy,

As you return for the final weeks of the 117th Congress and continue negotiations on the completion of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 appropriations process, we urge you to prioritize an additional $500 million for FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) and $300 million set aside for EFSP-Humanitarian Assistance. This funding would boost the capacity of local organizations to respond to the increasing number of asylum seekers at the U.S./Mexico border.

For many cities, local nonprofits and charities provide critical services to asylum seekers. These organizations have met the challenge head-on and provide essential support for our communities. While our shared commitment to this issue is robust, nonprofits require immediate federal assistance to continue this work. With the likely end of Title 42, even our most well-funded nonprofit partners will be overwhelmed, raising the urgency of this call to action.

Increased funding for EFSP would boost local nonprofits’ ability to help asylum seekers who need food, shelter, and legal and travel assistance. Many local organizations—public and private non-profit—desperately need new funding to address this urgent issue and are more than ready to expand their operations to support asylees. EFSP is an essential and effective tool for organizations providing lifesaving work at the border. Without this funding, our partners will have to make tough choices about who they serve and the quality of their care.

Decisive action on this issue cannot wait, and we appreciate your leadership and attention. As Mayors, we are thankful for your continued support for our nation’s cities, and we look forward to continuing to tackle our nation’s most significant problems together.

Sincerely,