# Why are the Feds not paying for the refugees? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 5, 2024, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646 "2024-01-05T14:33:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/41 "2024-01-05T16:42:02Z")
The current Congress, the Congress that has a goal of “Screw the current administration, no matter what!” can create enough of a mess that the banks would indeed think twice about cashing those checks. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/42 "2024-01-05T16:42:06Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > They do? The feds take immigrants, load them onto busses and drop them off in the middle of Dallas / San Antonio / Houston / etc? No. New York / Chicago/ Denver / etc. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/43 "2024-01-05T16:43:09Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > No. New York / Chicago/ Denver / etc. Can you cite a reputable news article that explains exactly what event you’re talking about here? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/44 "2024-01-05T16:43:52Z")
The _Feds_ are doing this? When you say “they”, and more than one entity is being discussed, clarifying who “they” are is very important. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/45 "2024-01-05T16:44:39Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > You can read about the bipartisan Senate bill here: [https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/03/politics/senate-immigration-negotiations-congress/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/03/politics/senate-immigration-negotiations-congress/index.html) Thanks for the link, but I find the article awfully short on specifics. The closest I see is: _But unlike 2013, the current deal under discussion in the Senate doesn’t offer a pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants – nor is it considered comprehensive. Instead, the Senate talks have focused on immigration restrictions pushed by Republicans, namely on asylum laws, changes to parole policies and the authority the administration can use to expel migrants or shut the border down when migration spikes._ I’d be a lot more critical of Repub proposals if I understood the Dems to be advancing some clear, reasonable proposals. -$x to border states to allow the states to do a,b,c; -Specific rules on transporting immigrants w/in the US; -Specific funding for housing immigrants while status undetermined; -Specific proposals for expediting status determinations; -revision of the asylum definition/process; -repatriation; - and - yes, how exactly to handle immigrants when encountered upon entry, and who pays for such efforts. I acknowledge that on a worldwide basis, the US has been woefully indadequate in its support for refugees resulting from situations the US often had a role in creating/allowing to occur. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/46 "2024-01-05T16:45:38Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Second, rounding people up and sending them to places without the ability to care for them, without resources, and against their will is horrific. Remember, these are people, not political toys. EXACTLY what the Feds are doing. Again why do they get a pass as humanitarians while the cities foot the bill? Or as I’ve said before, it’s easy to be generous with others’ people money. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/47 "2024-01-05T16:47:08Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > EXACTLY what the Feds are doing. Again: cite? What event/policy are you talking about here? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/48 "2024-01-05T16:49:22Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Is it too late in the thread to ask for a cite as to what the OP is talking about? The Federal government taking in refugees, dumping them in cities and not providing anywhere near sufficient funding. There seems to be a second question of why does the Feds get a pass for doing it but Red States & Sanctuary States don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/49 "2024-01-05T16:50:36Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The _Feds_ are doing this? Yes. What do you think the Feds are doing? Leaving the migrants at the border? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/50 "2024-01-05T16:50:53Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > The Federal government taking in refugees, dumping them in cities and not providing anywhere near sufficient funding. Again: citation please? It’s impossible to even talk about this until we know exactly what you’re referring to. I don’t believe Feds are dumping refugees anywhere; that’s simply not how refugees are handled, and it never has been. I suspect you’re using “refugee” interchangeably with “immigrant” or “asylee” but that’s just a guess since you haven’t offered a shred of information to explain what you’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/51 "2024-01-05T16:55:07Z")
Here is one article showing that it ain’t the Feds shipping them like cattle all over the place. [Texas is sending asylum seekers to major cities by bus with little notice. These mayors want to pump the brakes | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/30/us/asylum-seekers-texas-city-mayors/index.html) Your turn. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/52 "2024-01-05T17:04:11Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Here is one article showing that it ain’t the Feds shipping them like cattle all over the place. Then are you saying the Feds are just leaving them in Texas? Saying Abbot you deal with them? And if that’s true, then why can’t the sanctuary cities stop the bus and make them U-turn. Abbot can’t give cities in other states orders to take in refugees. And then why can’t the executive branch have the $$$ follow the refugees. Hey Texas, you get $1B to support migrants. You just shipped Chicago half your immigrants so they get $500M iand you get $550M. And why can’t the executive branch stop them as immigration is a Federal jurisdiction. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/53 "2024-01-05T17:06:31Z")
> [@bump](#): > > That’s part of the point by the red state governors (esp. Greg Abbott)- the blue states are very opinionated about how the border should be handled, how refugees should be handled, etc… but at a remove of several hundreds or thousands of miles. By shipping refugees to them and dropping them on these states and cities unannounced and unsupported, they’re essentially giving those states a bit of how it is to have a bunch of uninvited, unannounced, and basically destitute people show up and be a burden on your law enforcement, social services, and everything else that’s impacted when a whole lot of non-citizens show up from elsewhere with absolutely nothing but hope, and they’re expected to take care of them. California and New Mexico are both blue states on the border. The idea that blue states are “removed” from what he actual border situation looks like is just false. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/54 "2024-01-05T17:14:52Z")
You were wrong about the Feds shipping them all over the place, weren’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/55 "2024-01-05T17:16:54Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Then are you saying the Feds are just leaving them in Texas? Saying Abbot you deal with them? I am saying what I posted. Does it need to be rephrased? ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/56 "2024-01-05T17:29:12Z")
Looks like New York City is trying to [sue the charter bus companies](https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/05/us/migrant-crisis-new-york-bus-company-lawsuit/index.html) for sending people to NYC without prior notice. Most likely a scare tactic, doubt if its constitutional. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/57 "2024-01-05T17:30:45Z")
I’m way behind. Many threads’ velocities exceed my limited reading abilities 😉 But it seems on-topic to mention that many of the people who’ve entered, or are entering, the country “improperly” wind up working for artificially low, exploitative wages, and for legal residents or citizens. The effect of this, IMHO, is to _socialize_ rather substantial _costs_ and to _privatize_ rather substantial _profits_. It’s like a [**Bracero Program**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracero_Program) where we’re all handling costs and logistics for artificially low-wage, primarily manual, labor. In theory, we get the benefit of lower prices (because of lowered labor costs). In practice, I would bet … not. Markets are what they are, and they do what they do. Which is inherently messed up, IMHO. Which – in a discussion of the economics of asylum seekers and ‘undocumented immigrants --’ shouldn’t get lost. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/58 "2024-01-05T17:31:57Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > And if that’s true, then why can’t the sanctuary cities stop the bus and make them U-turn. Abbot can’t give cities in other states orders to take in refugees. Even if that were legal, how do they tell which buses are full of refugees? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/59 "2024-01-05T17:51:13Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > It’s not clear if we’re talking about refugees, asylees, or just job-seeking migrants And a lot of people make no distinction or will use only the one description that suits them. So some rightwingers just say “illegals” of everyone who does not have a prior visa, while some on the left will refer to _everyone_ at the border as “asylum seekers” whether or not they are. And as mentioned earlier, when the procedures end up being just as slow, onerous and unsatisfactory for all, the distinction loses meaning. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646/60 "2024-01-05T18:00:56Z")
That’s what I thought, this thread really just seems to be a Gish Gallop of loaded questions with zero cites that “refugees” are involved, or that the federal government is dumping anybody anywhere. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-feds-not-paying-for-the-refugees/995646.md?page=4)