MomsRising Issues Statement on FEMA Disaster Relief Funds

BELLEVUE, Washington, Sept. 12 -- MomsRising issued the following statement by CEO and Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner on reports that the Trump administration diverted the disaster relief funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's budget to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement:

"At a time when millions of people are racing to evacuate their homes and communities as one of the most dangerous hurricanes our country has seen in decades approaches, it is shocking to learn that the Trump administration diverted $10 million that Congress designated for disaster relief and used it to support ICE's disgraceful war on immigrants and asylum-seekers.

"Despite the ludicrous lies President Trump told yesterday, it is abundantly clear that FEMA's response to last year's hurricane in Puerto Rico was grossly inadequate and compounded the tragedy and shocking loss of life from Hurricane Maria.

"Even today, hundreds of thousands of Americans in Puerto Rico and in Texas, where Hurricane Harvey struck, are still suffering and struggling mightily. They need every penny of funding designated for FEMA to support their recovery. So, too, will those in the Carolinas and Virginia who are fleeing for their lives right now.

"It adds insult to injury that the Trump administration used these funds to support its disgraceful, deeply unpopular, immoral war on immigrants and refugees, during which ICE intentionally tore terrified children away from their parents, violated basic human rights and common decency, and caused grave harm to the health and well-being of vulnerable asylum-seekers, as well as to our nation's standing in the world. This President and this administration seem to have no moral compass at all. Congress must step in."