A federal watchdog group has revealed that the Biden administration allocated over $22.6 billion in taxpayer-funded grants to support illegal immigrants, including financial aid for cars, homes, and businesses. These funds, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through its Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), were distributed to nonprofit organizations between 2020 and 2024.
ORR significantly increased its spending over this period, awarding more than $10 billion in grants in fiscal year 2023 alone. The rise in spending coincided with a record-breaking 2.4 million illegal border crossings, fueling concerns that these financial programs acted as an incentive for more individuals to enter the country unlawfully.
Among the programs funded through these grants, nonprofits provided up to $1.7 billion in assistance, including loans for home purchases, small-business startup funds of up to $15,000, and credit repair programs. Some initiatives also covered legal assistance, housing support, and Medicaid coverage. While eligibility requirements existed for some programs, the expansion of grant recipients under the Biden administration meant more illegal immigrants received financial benefits.
A large portion of ORR’s funding—$12.4 billion—was designated for unaccompanied migrant children. However, the agency was criticized for its handling of these minors, with reports showing that 32,000 children placed with sponsors were unaccounted for. Concerns have been raised about the lack of background checks on sponsors and the overall oversight of the program.
Nonprofit groups receiving these federal grants included organizations with ties to ORR leadership. Robin Dunn Marcos, who oversaw ORR’s unaccompanied minor program, previously worked for some of these organizations before joining the agency. OpenTheBooks, the watchdog group that conducted the audit, has requested further records to determine whether certain nonprofits received special treatment in securing grant money.
Federal agencies beyond ORR have also been involved in migrant-related spending. FEMA allocated $80 million to house migrants in New York City hotels, a move later reversed under the Trump administration. With increasing scrutiny on government spending, further investigations may reveal more about the extent of taxpayer money being used for illegal immigrant aid programs.
