False claims promoted by Trump about FEMA disaster funds and migrants

False claims that federal disaster relief funds were illegally donated to migrants in the U.S. have spread rapidly in recent days, amplified by former President Donald Trump and some of his most prominent supporters.

Trump repeated one of the more extreme, baseless accusations during a rally Thursday in Saginaw, Michigan, saying the money was stolen.

“They stole the FEMA money, just like they stole it from a bank, so they could give it to their illegal immigrants who they want to vote for them this season,” Trump said.

Trump and his allies appear to be merging two different funds. FEMA has dedicated funds for disaster relief that cannot be used for other purposes. Separately, it was tasked by Congress in 2022 to distribute money from Customs and Border Protection to help communities that have received influxes of migrants.

The false claims have gained significant traction among Trump supporters and conservative media since Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Wednesday the agency would need more money for the remainder of hurricane season and the Helene recovery effort, calling for a stable source of reliable funds.

On its dedicated fact-checking page, FEMA responded to the claim that disaster assistance was “diverted to support international efforts or border-related issues.”

“No money is being diverted for disaster relief. FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance are funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts,” FEMA said in its post. “Disaster Relief Fund money was not redirected to other, non-disaster-related efforts.”

FEMA added: “FEMA currently has sufficient funding for immediate response and recovery needs. If you were affected by Helene, do not hesitate to apply for disaster relief, as there is a variety of assistance available to suit different needs.”

FEMA administered $640 million in grants from Customs and Border Protection in 2024 and about $364 million in 2023 to cities and counties assisting migrants. However, this program, called the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), is separate from FEMA's more than $20 billion disaster relief fund.

The SSP was created in 2022 as cities struggled to cope with the influx of migrants. That same year, Congress directed Customs and Border Protection to transfer $800 million to FEMA to support cities receiving migrants. The money was transferred to FEMA and, as with many other federal grant programs, FEMA managed the distribution of the grants.

For 2023 and 2024, SSP funds were awarded to cities such as Denver, Chicago and Philadelphia, as well as nonprofits such as Catholic Charities and The Salvation Army.

It is illegal to divert funds appropriated by Congress for one purpose and use them for another purpose.

Disaster funds are separate appropriations and are intended to direct, coordinate, manage, and finance eligible response and recovery efforts related to major domestic disasters and emergencies.

These funds allow FEMA to fund authorized federal disaster relief activities as well as eligible state, territorial, tribal, and local activities such as providing emergency response and debris removal.

A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, said any claims that disaster funds were going to illegal immigrants were false.

“As Secretary Mayorkas said, FEMA has the necessary resources to meet the immediate needs related to Hurricane Helene and other disasters,” the spokesperson said. “The Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is an entirely separate, dedicated grant program authorized and funded by Congress and is in no way affiliated with FEMA’s disaster authorities or funding streams.”

Efforts to clarify funding have done little to thwart a series of claims about FEMA and migrants that have ranged from misleading and lacking context to outright false. Some, like Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, claimed Elon Musk, owner of

Part of the problem for FEMA comes from the lack of a consistent federal budget. Congress funded the federal government last year with at least four short-term spending bills, called continuing resolutions, instead of a year's worth of appropriations. The last budget proposal, passed and signed in March, funded the government until September.

“We have an urgent need for a permanent solution at the moment. We have resources, but it is not a stable source of supply, if you will. “This is a multi-year, multi-billion dollar recovery, on the scale of a multi-billion dollar undertaking and a multi-year undertaking,” Mayorkas told reporters from Air Force One, noting that entire cities have disappeared.

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Thursday that President Joe Biden oversaw the release of more than $45 million to those directly affected by Hurricane Helene. According to the agency, 245,000 people have applied for financial assistance from FEMA so far.

According to the FEMA website, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for FEMA cash assistance programs.

Mayorkas said that with another hurricane expected to make landfall this season, FEMA does not have enough funding to cover the expected damage.

“We expect another hurricane. We don't have the resources. FEMA doesn’t have the resources to get through the season and what – what’s imminent,” he said.