Trump administration to require states use terrorism funds for migrant arrests

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By Courtney Rozen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration will require U.S. states to spend part of their federal terrorism prevention funds on helping the government arrest migrants, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said.

The Tuesday announcement represents President Donald Trump’s latest effort to apply federal funding for states to the arrest of migrants.

Congress established the Homeland Security Grant Program before Trump took office to help states prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks. FEMA, overseen by the Homeland Security Department, has a mission of helping states address disasters.

“President Trump is keeping his promise to make and keep America safe,” a spokesperson for U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in response to a question from Reuters on Wednesday about whether Congress intended the money be spent on arrest of migrants.

States say they have used the money previously to buy security cameras, firefighting foam equipment and computers. All 50 states receive the funds annually. 

States must spend at least 10% of their funds from the Homeland Security Grant Program on enforcing immigration laws “against all inadmissible and removable aliens,” according to the FEMA announcement. 

They can use it for tasks in support of Trump’s executive order on immigration, including to construct detention facilities or set up partnerships between police officers and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FEMA said.

It said states have until August 11 to apply for their portion of $373.3 million.

(Reporting by Courtney Rozen; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Howard Goller)