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 movers according to a letter sent this month The Department of Homeland Guard consistent with President Trump s direction is focused on advancing the essential mission of enforcing immigration laws and securing the margin says the letter obtained by The Denver Post The city received the notice April but it wasn t made masses 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 mentioned 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 administrators will also require Denver to return the money the federal regime already gave the city Denver intended to use the FEMA dollars to help offset what it spent to temporarily shelter an influx of about transients who arrived in the city between late and including multiple 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 administration closely Sykes explained 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 personnel While Denver s budget will undoubtedly take a hit from the loss of the FEMA funding it won t be felt directly because the city wasn t expecting a reimbursement for several years city spokesperson Jon Ewing communicated The Post Earlier FEMA which is under the Department of Homeland Safety sent city functionaries a letter in March threatening to withhold the dollars and accusing the city of using the money for illegal programs The agency also requested Denver to provide detailed information about whom it helped shelter The city was already required to provide certain of that information for the original grant application but did so again in response to the request Ewing declared 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 aid or have the expected to aid illegal immigration through funding illegal programs or promotion 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 Project which Congress authorizes The campaign directs FEMA to help non-federal entities that are sheltering noncitizen asylum seekers following their release from the Department of Homeland Safety The Trump administration hasn t sent the city any other specific threats to pull back grant dollars Ewing declared Trump signed two executive orders related to his crackdown on expatriates Monday including one that directs state and federal executives 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