Trump seeks to cancel $810 million in refugee and immigrant funding

The Trump administration is moving to cancel $810 million in funding that the US Congress had appropriated for refugees, immigrants, and related services. The Office of Management and Budget communicated this proposal over the weekend, sending a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday detailing the requested rescissions across various departments including Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, and Justice.

The administration's stated rationale for the proposed cuts is to align with its goal of ending the use of federal taxpayer dollars to support non-citizens and to prioritize Americans. This action, however, has sparked criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, decried the move as a "clear violation of the law" and an overreach of executive power, vowing to collaborate with colleagues to address the situation. Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley echoed these sentiments, characterizing the rescission request as an "illegal line item veto" that allows the president to unilaterally alter congressionally approved spending bills based on personal preference.

These proposed cuts are part of a broader immigration restriction effort by the Trump administration. Previous initiatives included attempts to abolish birthright citizenship for undocumented immigrants and visitors engaging in "birth tourism," though a Supreme Court ruling struck down that particular policy. Additionally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have been granted expanded authority to detain refugees awaiting permanent residency, and a new rule requires foreigners seeking visa status adjustments to depart the US and apply from abroad.