DHS Ends Funding Of NGOs Aiding Migrants, Says They 'Abused' Grants To 'Facilitate Illegal Immigration'

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the agency will end its grant funding to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) she says are using federal funds to aid illegal migration into the U.S. In an interview on Fox News, Noem said the move is part of the broader crackdown by the Donald Trump administration and the reversal of policies set by its predecessor, Joe Biden.

Noem said the decision comes after a review of the federal aid directed to NGOs. "Today we are announcing that we have stopped all grant funding that's being abused by NGOs to facilitate illegal immigration into this country," she said.

The DHS secretary added that the government had spent "hundreds of millions of dollars" funding NGOs she said contributed to the "invasion" of the U.S. "I've taken action to stop those funds to reevaluate them and to make sure that we're actually using the taxpayer dollars in a way that strengthens this country," she added.

The announcement follows a larger effort to enforce stricter immigration policies. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have ramped up operations across the country as part of what Trump has described as his intended largest deportation operation in American history.

Noem further highlighted the need for better oversight of federal grant spending: "I think people are curious when we look at grants that are given out by federal agencies at how they're utilized,"

Reflecting on her understanding of NGOs, Noem added, "I was one of those Americans that years ago when somebody said NGO to me I thought, 'Oh that's amazing.' Then I realized over the years it's been perverted into this shadow government."