Skip to main content

2.0

Trump administration uses Migration and Refugee Assistance funds meant for overseas refugees to support "self deportations"

  1. Original Date Announced

    May 20, 2025

    The Washington Post reports the Trump administration plans to use $250 million in Department of State (DOS) Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) funds for the voluntary repatriation of migrants from active conflict zones. Documents mention Ukrainians, Haitians, Afghans, Palestinians, Libyans, Sudanese, Syrians, and Yemenis as migrants who could be targeted as part of the voluntary-deportation program.

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called these documents “outdated,” but recently signed an agreement with DOS detailing the same processes.

    Trump 2.0 [ID #1768]

    2025.05.20 Reported: Trump proposal to repatriate Ukrainians, Haitians would use foreign aid funds - Washington Post
  2. Subsequent Trump and Court Action

    May 7, 2025

    2025.05.30 DOS - Determination Pursuant to Section 2(b)(2) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962

    Deputy Secretary of State Landau issued a public notice determining that assistance to or on behalf of migrants without legal basis to remain in the United States to voluntarily return to their country of origin or country of legal status will contribute to the foreign policy interests of the United States.

    The determination is made under section 2(b)(2) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (22 U.S.C. 2601(b)(2)), which authorizes the use of appropriated funds "for assistance to or on behalf of refugees who are outside the United States..." (emphasis added).

    The determination was made on May 7 but published on May 30.

    View Document
  3. Subsequent Trump and Court Action

    June 5, 2025

    2025.06.05 Reported - State Department shifts $250 million from refugee aid to 'self-deportations'

    Reuters reports that the State Department moved $250 million of Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) funds to the Department of Homeland Security for voluntary deportations of migrants without legal status. Experts say that this is an unprecedented use of MRA funds, which historically have been used "to provide refugee and displacement assistance, refugee processing and resettlement to the U.S., and respond to urgent and emerging humanitarian crises - not to return those very people to the harm or persecution they fled."

    View Document

To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com

To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com