The Pima County Board of Supervisors will meet to discuss a possible settlement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding frozen migrant-relief funding. The issue stems from a high-profile case in which the federal government paused payments while investigating whether the county had violated the law.
The board’s discussion is scheduled for Tuesday during a closed-door executive session at the start of its regular meeting. Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Matthew F. Kennelly ordered FEMA to restore the withheld payments. A status conference in the case is planned for December 2.
Funding has been frozen since March. Pima County, along with the cities of Denver and Chicago, filed a lawsuit demanding that the payments be released as required by law. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court of Northern Illinois, challenging FEMA’s decision to halt funds for local migrant support programs.
In March, FEMA ended the federal Shelter and Services Program (SSP) and stopped payments to several local governments, including Pima County. The program, enacted by Congress in 2022, continued funding originally started under the Trump administration. Since 2019, the federal government has sent more than $110 million to Pima County to operate the program.
FEMA’s suspension of funds suggested potential legal wrongdoing by the county but did not provide proof or details. Pima County had partnered with Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona to temporarily house asylum seekers at Casa Alitas, helping migrants on their way to other destinations in the United States while awaiting the outcomes of their asylum claims.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) withheld funds pending an investigation, which could have justified reclaiming money already spent. In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs argued that FEMA’s actions were a pretext to end the program. The suit stated that Congress authorized the funding, and local governments providing these services were acting legally.
“This investigation was pure pretext. FEMA had already decided to eliminate the Shelter and Services Program. The notion that grantees commit crimes by providing services that Congress authorized is absurd,” the lawsuit stated. Attorneys noted that FEMA terminated the grants even before allowing grantees to respond to the agency’s investigation.
What does this settlement mean for Pima County’s migrant programs?
If the settlement is approved, FEMA is likely to release the frozen funds, allowing programs like Casa Alitas to continue helping asylum seekers legally and safely. The resolution would prevent further financial disruption for local migrant support efforts.