The "money for Texas" amendment: GOP budget could reward Greg Abbott for MAGA border stunts

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The "money for Texas" amendment: GOP budget could reward Greg Abbott for MAGA border stunts
Red states could reap billions in federal aid for their efforts to "enforce the immigration laws" under Joe Biden

By Russell Payne
Staff Reporter
Published May 23, 2025 5:45AM (EDT)


(Salon) Congressional Republicans slipped a provision into their budget passed Thursday that would hand out billions of dollars to pay for things like Texas Gov. Greg Abbot’s immigrant busing initiative and state-funded border wall.

An amendment to the House budget, passed Wednesday night, sets aside $12 billion for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to allocate to states, specifically to pay for programs the Trump administration considers supportive of its border security mission. The provision makes the money available to reimburse states for any costs related to aiding the effort "to enforce the immigration laws, including through detention and removal, and to combat the unlawful entry of persons and contraband."

Under the provision, states would be able to obtain compensation for immigration-related activities dating back to January 2021, when former President Joe Biden was inaugurated.

But there’s a catch: The amendment to the bill also says that the secretary of Homeland Security cannot grant the money to any state that has received reimbursement under any other grant program managed by the department.

In practical terms, this prohibition targets FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program, a program created in order to help state and local governments as well as humanitarian groups pay for any costs associated with receiving immigrants while they await the outcome of their court proceedings. These costs can include anything from food, shelter, transportation, medical care or personal hygiene supplies. .................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2025/05/23/the-money-for-texas-amendment-budget-could-reward-greg-abbott-for-maga-border-stunts/