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The Trump administration has initiated a scrutiny of organizations providing assistance to migrants, raising concerns about potential violations of anti-smuggling laws.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, Cameron Hamilton, FEMA’s acting administrator, expressed “significant concerns” about the potential misuse of federal grants allocated during the Biden administration’s response to increased migration. The letter requests that recipients of FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program submit comprehensive details about their services and the migrants they’ve assisted within 30 days, during which funding will be suspended.

While not directly threatening criminal charges, the letter references U.S. Criminal Code Section 1324, which addresses felony offenses related to illegal border crossings and domestic transportation of undocumented individuals. Organizations must also provide signed statements from executive officers confirming they’re unaware of any smuggling law violations within their operations.

This move represents a fresh challenge to organizations that assist exhausted migrants with essential services like food, shelter, and transportation assistance. These newcomers typically arrive with limited resources and struggle to navigate transportation systems independently.

A similar initiative by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican aligned with Trump’s policies, previously targeted migrant aid groups but faced legal obstacles.

The program under review distributed $641 million in fiscal year 2024 to various recipients nationwide, including major cities like New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Denver, along with organizations such as the United Way of Miami, San Antonio Food Bank, and multiple Catholic Charities locations.

While it remains unclear whether government entities received these letters, the Trump administration has consistently opposed states and municipalities that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. This stance was recently demonstrated when they filed a lawsuit against Chicago over laws allegedly interfering with federal law enforcement activities.

When contacted for comment late Wednesday, FEMA did not provide an immediate response.