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FEMA sent $59 million to high end hotels last week

This seems like a topic that should receive bi-partisan support. Very simple: People in the US illegally should receive precisely zero assistance from federal or state governments, other than perhaps free ride back to their home country.
Pardon me if I don't trust Musk and his ability to treat situations with nuance. That being said, I agree that if 100% true, should not be happening.
 
This seems like a topic that should receive bi-partisan support. Very simple: People in the US illegally should receive precisely zero assistance from federal or state governments, other than perhaps free ride back to their home country.
Other than basic humanitarian aid and dignity, yes. I’ve never gotten the argument that we have to keep them because the economy needs it; all that means is that you want a permanent underclass of serfs to do the dirty work rather than to push for higher wages.
 
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For illegal immigrants to be housed. Please explain @dpic73.
Not sure why this was directed at me alone because I don't even speak for all left of center posters on this board, much less all Democrats. Plus, most of the other left of center folks on this board are smarter than me.

But just to level-set, I did not approve of the way Biden managed the border as it was a disaster but what made me even angrier is that he wouldn't publicly address it, so we never understood why he let it get so out of hand. At times I thought there must be a reason he's not telling us, but he never did so he seemed to be asleep at the wheel. I'll never understand it. And for the record, I also don't like that so much money went to their upkeep.

A couple other notes:

@WapPride addressed this in another thread that these were asylum seekers, not illegal immigrants, for what it's worth.

If you get all your news from right-wing social media, you rarely get the whole truth, but as I also pointed out in another thread, FEMA didn't give that money from their resources or divert that money, they were simply the administrators.


VERDICT. False.
Funds were not diverted from the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund to “house illegal immigrants” under the Biden administration. The Shelter and Services Program housing migrants and administered by FEMA is funded from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol budget.


That's all I have to say about it.
 
Not sure why this was directed at me alone because I don't even speak for all left of center posters on this board, much less all Democrats. Plus, most of the other left of center folks on this board are smarter than me.

But just to level-set, I did not approve of the way Biden managed the border as it was a disaster but what made me even angrier is that he wouldn't publicly address it, so we never understood why he let it get so out of hand. At times I thought there must be a reason he's not telling us, but he never did so he seemed to be asleep at the wheel. I'll never understand it. And for the record, I also don't like that so much money went to their upkeep.

A couple other notes:

@WapPride addressed this in another thread that these were asylum seekers, not illegal immigrants, for what it's worth.

If you get all your news from right-wing social media, you rarely get the whole truth, but as I also pointed out in another thread, FEMA didn't give that money from their resources or divert that money, they were simply the administrators.


VERDICT. False.
Funds were not diverted from the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund to “house illegal immigrants” under the Biden administration. The Shelter and Services Program housing migrants and administered by FEMA is funded from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol budget.


That's all I have to say about it.
FEMA money is designated for American citizens after an emergency. Not asylum seekers. Do better. This is bullshit.

And spare all of us the money laundering nonsense of it went to FEMA but the CBP approved it. No one cares. It’s wrong. Full stop. Liberals did this. Full stop.

Then you claim right wing media fuels this while literally citing Reuters as your source. Why not just cite Karine Jean Pierre or whatever her name was.

Not only is it a liberal rag, that article you cite is from October of 2024. This was a post about 59 million being released last week. Not in October. Keep up.
 
FEMA money is designated for American citizens after an emergency. Not asylum seekers. Do better. This is bullshit.

And spare all of us the money laundering nonsense of it went to FEMA but the CBP approved it. No one cares. It’s wrong. Full stop. Liberals did this. Full stop.

Then you claim right wing media fuels this while literally citing Reuters as your source. Why not just cite Karine Jean Pierre or whatever her name was.

Not only is it a liberal rag, that article you cite is from October of 2024. This was a post about 59 million being released last week. Not in October. Keep up.
O.....K.....🤷‍♂️

Why bother asking me?
 
I don't think this is true/accurate. If it is about what I think it is then FEMA was used as a passthrough/administrator of the funds. By that, I mean Congress set aside funds to deal with migrant housing and had FEMA administer it. It isn't part of FEMA's budget but they're the ones most capable of administering the money
 
FEMA money is designated for American citizens after an emergency. Not asylum seekers. Do better. This is bullshit.

And spare all of us the money laundering nonsense of it went to FEMA but the CBP approved it. No one cares. It’s wrong. Full stop. Liberals did this. Full stop.

Then you claim right wing media fuels this while literally citing Reuters as your source. Why not just cite Karine Jean Pierre or whatever her name was.

Not only is it a liberal rag, that article you cite is from October of 2024. This was a post about 59 million being released last week. Not in October. Keep up.
You're really complaining about Reuters? Lmao.

Facts don't care about your feelings man. a Republican-led Congress passed money to help migrants find temp housing and told FEMA to administer it. Just because reality doesn't match what you want doesn't mean it isn't true
 
You're really complaining about Reuters? Lmao.

Facts don't care about your feelings man. a Republican-led Congress passed money to help migrants find temp housing and told FEMA to administer it. Just because reality doesn't match what you want doesn't mean it isn't true
No I’m pointing out the obvious contradiction where the claim is I get only news from right wing yet this dude cites a liberal propaganda mouthpiece. Not sure what facts you’re referring to. The billions that liberal psychos have been funneling through USAID or the revelation of FEMA misusing their funds while giving true American victims 700$. Please enlighten us more. Better yet why don’t you cite the republicans in congress that supported this (your words) spending of FEMA money. Show us that article and their quotes as to why they’d agree to that. Haven’t seen that one yet. I’ll wait.
 
No I’m pointing out the obvious contradiction where the claim is I get only news from right wing yet this dude cites a liberal propaganda mouthpiece. Not sure what facts you’re referring to. The billions that liberal psychos have been funneling through USAID or the revelation of FEMA misusing their funds while giving true American victims 700$. Please enlighten us more. Better yet why don’t you cite the republicans in congress that supported this (your words) spending of FEMA money. Show us that article and their quotes as to why they’d agree to that. Haven’t seen that one yet. I’ll wait.
Reuters isn't some liberal propaganda machine. If you want to know why Republicans supported it, you go look it up. It was in the funding package they passed. This isn't some revelation of misuse of funds. It was in the funding package. Everyone knew about it. It was money granted to CBP by Congress that they designated FEMA to administer on behalf of CBP.

And FEMA gives far more than $700. The $700 is just the first check for immediate financial emergency assistance. If people apply for it they give way more money. All the time.

Also, not sure why you're complaining about USAID. It is one of the best uses of money the US government does. It helps untold millions of people around the world. It is a form of soft imperialism and helps make our country safer. Not only is it used to combat infectious diseases in areas where they originate, it fights against influence from China/Russia/Iran/terrorist groups. Al Qaeda or some other terrorist group shows up to recruit in a village, villagers can say "Well I don't know about the US being bad, look at the food and medical care they gave us." A more stable world is one that is better for America. USAID makes the world more stable. Conservatives want an America that is smaller, poorer, more threatened, and crueler. I just fundamentally disagree with that and think it is antithetical to the United States.
 
Can you please use my answer above and tell me what my argument was?
Yes sir, you cited an article from October that said it wasn’t true and tried to write it off. That’s just flat out inaccurate. This is a place where good liberals would say, ok, enough of this, we can all agree that this is a serious problem. But no, yall all double down on the madness.
 
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Reuters isn't some liberal propaganda machine. If you want to know why Republicans supported it, you go look it up. It was in the funding package they passed. This isn't some revelation of misuse of funds. It was in the funding package. Everyone knew about it. It was money granted to CBP by Congress that they designated FEMA to administer on behalf of CBP.

And FEMA gives far more than $700. The $700 is just the first check for immediate financial emergency assistance. If people apply for it they give way more money. All the time.

Also, not sure why you're complaining about USAID. It is one of the best uses of money the US government does. It helps untold millions of people around the world. It is a form of soft imperialism and helps make our country safer. Not only is it used to combat infectious diseases in areas where they originate, it fights against influence from China/Russia/Iran/terrorist groups. Al Qaeda or some other terrorist group shows up to recruit in a village, villagers can say "Well I don't know about the US being bad, look at the food and medical care they gave us." A more stable world is one that is better for America. USAID makes the world more stable. Conservatives want an America that is smaller, poorer, more threatened, and crueler. I just fundamentally disagree with that and think it is antithetical to the United States.
Folks. If you wanna see a full blown liberal. I give you exhibit A. This dude is justifying shit like 20million for an Iraqi lgbtq Sesame Street. We all know that’s critical to American safety.
 
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Folks. If you wanna see a full blown liberal. I give you exhibit A. This dude is justifying shit like 20million for an Iraqi lgbtq Sesame Street. We all know that’s critical to American safety.
Where are we spending $20m on an Iraqi LGBT Sesame Street. Typical conservatives to just make stuff up and believe made up nonsense
 
Yes sir, you cited an article from October that said it wasn’t true and tried to write it off. That’s just flat out inaccurate. This is a place where good liberals would say, ok, enough of this, we can all agree that this is a serious problem. But no, yall all double down on the madness.
You don't seem to understand how this works. FEMA did not spend $50m or whatever of their budget on this. They administered money that was part of the CBP budget. Those two things are fundamentally different.
 
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Yes sir, you cited an article from October that said it wasn’t true and tried to write it off. That’s just flat out inaccurate. This is a place where good liberals would say, ok, enough of this, we can all agree that this is a serious problem. But no, yall all double down on the madness.
Then you totally missed the part where I said I didn't approve of the way Biden handled the border or the money spent on housing migrants, I suppose. You chose to focus on my point that it doesn't come out of the FEMA budget and are insisting that it does. Surely you have a tweet from Insurrection Barbie that proves me wrong, don't you?
 
You don't seem to understand how this works. FEMA did not spend $50m or whatever of their budget on this. They administered money that was part of the CBP budget. Those two things are fundamentally different.
Are they both tax dollars? Are tax dollars supposed to be spent on illegal aliens?
 
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Then you totally missed the part where I said I didn't approve of the way Biden handled the border or the money spent on housing migrants, I suppose. You chose to focus on my point that it doesn't come out of the FEMA budget and are insisting that it does. Surely you have a tweet from Insurrection Barbie that proves me wrong, don't you?
Did you vote for Biden? Do you vote democrat? If the answer to either of those is yes. Guess what - you support it.
 
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Are they both tax dollars? Are tax dollars supposed to be spent on illegal aliens?
Yes, I think tax dollars should be spent on asylum seekers while they are waiting for processing and waiting to find other housing

Edit: And before you get all in a bender about it, I believe that because I'm a mass going Catholic.

"The émigré Holy Family of Nazareth, fleeing into Egypt, is the archetype of every refugee family. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, living in exile in Egypt to escape the fury of an evil king, are, for all times and all places, the models and protectors of every migrant, alien and refugee of whatever kind who, whether compelled by fear of persecution or by want, is forced to leave his native land, his beloved parents and relatives, his close friends, and to seek a foreign soil."-Pope Pius XII
 
Reuters isn't some liberal propaganda machine. If you want to know why Republicans supported it, you go look it up. It was in the funding package they passed. This isn't some revelation of misuse of funds. It was in the funding package. Everyone knew about it. It was money granted to CBP by Congress that they designated FEMA to administer on behalf of CBP.

And FEMA gives far more than $700. The $700 is just the first check for immediate financial emergency assistance. If people apply for it they give way more money. All the time.

Also, not sure why you're complaining about USAID. It is one of the best uses of money the US government does. It helps untold millions of people around the world. It is a form of soft imperialism and helps make our country safer. Not only is it used to combat infectious diseases in areas where they originate, it fights against influence from China/Russia/Iran/terrorist groups. Al Qaeda or some other terrorist group shows up to recruit in a village, villagers can say "Well I don't know about the US being bad, look at the food and medical care they gave us." A more stable world is one that is better for America. USAID makes the world more stable. Conservatives want an America that is smaller, poorer, more threatened, and crueler. I just fundamentally disagree with that and think it is antithetical to the United States.
Not worth it.
 
Did you vote for Biden? Do you vote democrat? If the answer to either of those is yes. Guess what - you support it.
Dude, I would support Kermit the Frog before I would support a sociopathic, pathologically lying insurrectionist who wants to divide us more than we've been divided since the Civil War. That didn't mean I worshipped Biden, it just meant I valued stability, decency and democracy more.
 
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Dude, I would support Kermit the Frog before I would support a sociopathic, pathologically lying insurrectionist who wants to divide us more than we've been divided since the Civil War. That didn't mean I worshipped Biden, it just meant I valued stability, decency and democracy more.
Now the truth.
 
Where does it say DEI in there? I didn't realize teaching kids they should respect people despite differences was a bad thing
Why is it the responsibility of American taxpayers to teach kids in Iraq to respect other ethnic groups?
 
Yes, I think tax dollars should be spent on asylum seekers while they are waiting for processing and waiting to find other housing

Edit: And before you get all in a bender about it, I believe that because I'm a mass going Catholic.

"The émigré Holy Family of Nazareth, fleeing into Egypt, is the archetype of every refugee family. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, living in exile in Egypt to escape the fury of an evil king, are, for all times and all places, the models and protectors of every migrant, alien and refugee of whatever kind who, whether compelled by fear of persecution or by want, is forced to leave his native land, his beloved parents and relatives, his close friends, and to seek a foreign soil."-Pope Pius XII
Then your church should support that with their money that is donated to them. It’s not meant for taxpayers to subsidize. Charity is different than theft.
 
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Yes, I think tax dollars should be spent on asylum seekers while they are waiting for processing and waiting to find other housing

Edit: And before you get all in a bender about it, I believe that because I'm a mass going Catholic.

"The émigré Holy Family of Nazareth, fleeing into Egypt, is the archetype of every refugee family. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, living in exile in Egypt to escape the fury of an evil king, are, for all times and all places, the models and protectors of every migrant, alien and refugee of whatever kind who, whether compelled by fear of persecution or by want, is forced to leave his native land, his beloved parents and relatives, his close friends, and to seek a foreign soil."-Pope Pius XII

I think this perspective would land better if there weren't so many people trying to abuse the asylum process. If a family is legitimately being persecuted in their home country and the only way for them to survive is to seek asylum in the US, sure, maybe a little help as they quickly get established here.

Bu you have a ton of BS asylum seekers that we're also supporting with these funds. That is a waste of taxpayer money. We need to clamp down the asylum process and unless there is an immediate risk to their life, they should wait in their home country while they are vetted.
 
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Why is it the responsibility of American taxpayers to teach kids in Iraq to respect other ethnic groups?
An Iraq that doesn't fall into sectarian violence and turn into a prime recruiting ground for extremist groups like ISIS is a net positive for America. We are the global hegemon (at least until Elon gets his way), so better us than Russia or China
 
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I think this perspective would land better if there weren't so many people trying to abuse the asylum process. If a family is legitimately being persecuted in their home country and the only way for them to survive is to seek asylum in the US, sure, maybe a little help as they quickly get established here.

Bu you have a ton of BS asylum seekers that we're also supporting with these funds. That is a waste of taxpayer money. We need to clamp down the asylum process and unless there is an immediate risk to their life, they should wait in their home country while they are vetted.
Definitely don't think it is a waste. Used to be that almost anyone could get into the country back in the old days via Ellis Island. I got zero problem with that. Even now, asylum seekers and "illegal" immigrants contribute far more in taxes than they "take" out
 
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An Iraq that doesn't fall into sectarian violence and turn into a prime recruiting ground for extremist groups like ISIS is a net positive for America. We are the global hegemon (at least until Elon gets his way), so better us than Russia or China
That’s a hell of a reach for Sesame Street my guy.
 
Definitely don't think it is a waste. Used to be that almost anyone could get into the country back in the old days via Ellis Island. I got zero problem with that. Even now, asylum seekers and "illegal" immigrants contribute far more in taxes than they "take" out

The good ole days of Ellis Island also predated modern entitlement programs. So taxpayers are now stuck paying for people who can't make it on their own. This is why complete self-sufficiency should be a requirement of any immigration approval.

I have no problem with people coming here legally and contributing. And they should contribute more than they take. Everyone should unless you are mentally or physically disabled in some way. An able-bodied adult who takes more from the government than they contribute is a complete failure, whether they are a US citizen or not.
 
Oh you're a "taxation is theft" guy, should have known
You have to live in a literal echo chamber. There’s no way you are having serious conversations with anyone of opposing views. You’re arguments are so easily dismissed.
 
Definitely don't think it is a waste. Used to be that almost anyone could get into the country back in the old days via Ellis Island. I got zero problem with that. Even now, asylum seekers and "illegal" immigrants contribute far more in taxes than they "take" out
And those immigrants via ellis island were al "legal" they also entered into a largely rural, agriculture based society that became increasingly industrialized. Either way their was plenty of demand for labor on existing farms or in factories and land to settle on. And as has been pointed out there were no government entitlement programs for them. They worked or got private charity.

From a volume standpoint....

Ellis island was open from 1892 to 1954 and in those years approx. 12MM legal immigrants pass through. They were al subject to medical examination and quarantine if necessary, inspection of documentation, and at least a cursory inspection/investigation of why they were coming, their plans etc. They followed a process and entered a country that needed people.

So 12mm over 62 years = 200,000 immigrants per year via Ellis Island.

Between 2021 - 2024 estimates go as high as 2.1MM / year via the southern border.

200,000/ year via a controlled process when we actually had a large demand for physical labor vs 2.1MM / year when we don't need all those bodies and we have a lack of control over how the majority enter AND we have government entitlement programs supported by the American taxpayer
 
The good ole days of Ellis Island also predated modern entitlement programs. So taxpayers are now stuck paying for people who can't make it on their own. This is why complete self-sufficiency should be a requirement of any immigration approval.

I have no problem with people coming here legally and contributing. And they should contribute more than they take. Everyone should unless you are mentally or physically disabled in some way. An able-bodied adult who takes more from the government than they contribute is a complete failure, whether they are a US citizen or not.
Everyone should contribute more than they take? So how do you feel about the biggest taker states all being GOP states while the states which give more than they receive are all Dem states.

And like I said, immigrants put more in in taxes than they take out in entitlements. We also need immigrants to keep the entitlement system running due to declining birth rates
 
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You have to live in a literal echo chamber. There’s no way you are having serious conversations with anyone of opposing views. Your arguments are so easily dismissed.
The same could be said of you. You just skipped by my point. “Taxation=theft” is as ludicrous as thinking Santa Claus is real
 
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