End FEMA Benefits for Illegal Immigrants Act (S771)
Current understanding
S771 would prohibit FEMA from operating the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), which provides grants to state, local, and nongovernmental entities for shelter, food, and transportation of noncitizen migrants released from DHS custody while awaiting immigration proceedings. The bill would also rescind unobligated FY2023–FY2024 SSP funds. Practical effect if enacted: elimination of a federal funding stream that border and interior jurisdictions and NGOs have used to manage post-release migrant reception. Status: introduced.
Evidence log
- 2026-06-24 — LIFT the BAR Act: cross-connection with lift-the-bar-act-immigrant-benefits: Opposing directions on federal benefits for noncitizens: LIFT the BAR expands access for lawfully present immigrants while the FEMA bill restricts benefit access based on immigration status. (novelty: 2)
- 2026-07-14 — Securing Healthcare and Income Entitlements for Lawfully Domiciled Citizens (SHIELD Citizens) Act: cross-connection with shield-citizens-act: Part of a broader legislative pattern conditioning federal benefits (healthcare, income, disaster aid) on lawful immigration status. (novelty: 2)
- 2025-03-27 — Ensuring Medicaid Eligibility Act of 2025: cross-connection with ensuring-medicaid-eligibility-act-2025: Parallel efforts to restrict noncitizen access to federal benefits programs, with Medicaid and FEMA assistance addressed through separate but analogous eligibility-verification and payment-prohibition mechanisms. (novelty: 3)