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Border Mayors: $30 Million From Congress Isn't Enough for Migrant Crisis

Mayors representing cities located on or near the U.S.-Mexico border expect to blow through $30 million Congress allocated in a recent supplemental funding bill for humanitarian costs associated with record-high numbers of migrant families arriving at the border.

Mayors representing cities located on or near the U.S.-Mexico border expect to blow through $30 million Congress allocated in a recent supplemental funding bill for humanitarian costs associated with record-high numbers of migrant families arriving at the border.

“We were all actively involved in lobbying our congressional delegates to see the supplemental funding take place. However, $30 million is really going to be reimbursing communities like mine, pennies on the dollar for the supplies and the manpower and resources that we’ve been asked to donate to this crisis in our country,” said John Giles, mayor of Mesa, Arizona, during a press conference Thursday afternoon.

Six mayors from cities in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona detailed the costs their communities have incurred in that time and knocked lawmakers for the delay it took for short-term assistance. The bipartisan group spoke after touring Customs and Border Protection facilities with acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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