Washington - This week, Congressman Lance Gooden reintroduced the Protecting Federal Funds from Human Trafficking and Smuggling Act, legislation to cut off federal funding to NGOs that aid and abet illegal immigration, human trafficking, and cartel-driven smuggling operations at the southern border.
“For years, non-governmental organizations have exploited taxpayer dollars to facilitate illegal immigration under the guise of ‘humanitarian aid,’” said Rep. Gooden. “The exploitation of the American taxpayer will end under the Trump Administration. This bill ensures that not a single cent of American tax dollars will fund organizations complicit in human trafficking and illegal border crossings.”
The Federation for American Immigration Reform, the largest immigration reform group in the country, issued the following statement on Rep. Gooden's legislation:
“Open-borders nonprofits have brazenly fueled the border crisis by using taxpayer dollars doled out by the Biden administration to facilitate illegal immigration, including smuggling and human trafficking. The Protecting Federal Funds from Human Trafficking and Smuggling Act would address this abuse by preventing federal grants from being awarded to these nonprofits unless they certify that they are not, and have not been, involved in human trafficking or smuggling. FAIR applauds Congressman Gooden's leadership and commitment to restoring order at our borders and protecting American taxpayers.” - Joe Chatham Director of Government Relations
Read the full bill here.
“For years, non-governmental organizations have exploited taxpayer dollars to facilitate illegal immigration under the guise of ‘humanitarian aid,’” said Rep. Gooden. “The exploitation of the American taxpayer will end under the Trump Administration. This bill ensures that not a single cent of American tax dollars will fund organizations complicit in human trafficking and illegal border crossings.”
Key Provisions:
- No Funding for Human Smuggling: Prohibits federal contracts and grants from being awarded to NGOs unless they can certify they are not engaging in human trafficking or smuggling.
- Revoking Tax-Exempt Status: Strips 501(c)(3) status from any organization found to be knowingly violating federal trafficking or smuggling laws.
- Enforcing Legal Compliance: Requires NGOs to verify eligibility before providing public benefits, ensuring illegal aliens do not receive taxpayer-funded assistance.
Background:
During President Biden's term, the southern border was in absolute chaos:- Over 10.8 million illegal encounters have been recorded, flooding American communities with unvetted immigrants.
- NGOs, bankrolled by your taxpayer dollars, are funding the mass relocation of illegal immigrants, handing out plane and bus tickets, hotel rooms, and legal coaching to help them stay in the U.S.
- Federal agencies including DHS, FEMA, HHS, and the State Department have funneled millions into these organizations with zero accountability.
- Congressional oversight has been stonewalled as NGOs refuse to disclose their role in aiding illegal crossings.
- A DHS Inspector General report found the agency has no real ability to track migrants after they are released, with many using NGO addresses as their only known location.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform, the largest immigration reform group in the country, issued the following statement on Rep. Gooden's legislation:
“Open-borders nonprofits have brazenly fueled the border crisis by using taxpayer dollars doled out by the Biden administration to facilitate illegal immigration, including smuggling and human trafficking. The Protecting Federal Funds from Human Trafficking and Smuggling Act would address this abuse by preventing federal grants from being awarded to these nonprofits unless they certify that they are not, and have not been, involved in human trafficking or smuggling. FAIR applauds Congressman Gooden's leadership and commitment to restoring order at our borders and protecting American taxpayers.” - Joe Chatham Director of Government Relations
Read the full bill here.