A new watchdog report reveals that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spent a staggering $22.6 billion on programs assisting illegal immigrants from 2020 to 2024, a period marked by record-high border crossings.
The report, released by Open the Books and first reported by the New York Post, details how the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) distributed the majority of these funds to nonprofit organizations during President Joe Biden’s term. This same agency has faced scrutiny for losing track of 32,000 migrant children and failing to conduct adequate background checks on refugees.
Massive Spending Under Biden’s Policies
In fiscal year 2023 alone, ORR granted a whopping $10 billion as the Biden administration expanded eligibility for assistance to illegal immigrants. The breakdown of HHS’s spending shows a steady increase under Biden’s leadership:
2020: $2.6 billion
2021: $2.3 billion
2023: $10 billion
2024: $4.2 billion
The surge in spending aligns with the Biden administration’s approach of allowing record numbers of illegal immigrants to enter and remain in the U.S.
Where Did the Money Go?
According to the report, ORR funding was used for a variety of programs benefiting illegal immigrants, including:
Savings programs to help migrants buy homes and cars
Business and personal loans to build credit
Legal assistance for migrants fighting deportation
Cultural orientation and emergency housing support
John Hart, CEO of Open The Books, criticized the ORR’s practices, saying:
“Vast sums are being outsourced to evade accountability and prop up an immoral, exploitive system that is hurtful to both American citizens and people in other countries who are longing for a better life.”
Lost Migrant Children and Lack of Oversight
Despite spending billions on resettlement, ORR has been accused of losing track of tens of thousands of migrant children and placing many into potentially dangerous or abusive situations. In 2023, the House Judiciary Committee released a report showing that ORR’s refugee resettlement director, Robin Dunn Marcos, admitted to failing to conduct criminal background checks on migrants.
Meanwhile, ORR’s eligibility programs expanded under Biden to include:
Humanitarian parolees from Afghanistan and Ukraine
Unaccompanied minors
Special visa holders from Afghanistan and Iraq
Crackdown Under Trump’s Administration
The Open The Books report comes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently clawed back $59 million in unauthorized Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) spending on housing illegal immigrants in New York City. The reversal came after Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, exposed the payment, leading to the firing of four FEMA staffers.
Additionally, the GOP-controlled Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s pick to lead HHS, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., on Thursday, with all Democrats and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) opposing him. Kennedy has already hired Chris Clem, a former Border Patrol chief, as a senior immigration advisor.
With the Trump administration ramping up mass deportations, Kennedy’s HHS is expected to coordinate with DHS in cracking down on illegal immigration and tightening refugee resettlement policies.
This report underscores the staggering costs and ongoing controversy surrounding the federal government’s handling of illegal immigration. As the Biden administration’s policies come under scrutiny, Trump’s leadership appears poised to take a hardline approach to curbing illegal immigration and tightening oversight on government spending.
