Trump’s Tax Cuts Force Closure of Migrant Shelters in Arizona
Casa Alitas in Tucson, Arizona, U.S. X/ @chtvhn
January 24, 2025 Hour: 9:33 am
On Monday, he signed an order suspending funding for assistance programs under the Shelter Services Program.
On Thursday, John Lesher, the Pima County administrator, reported that two migrant shelters in Arizona were closed due to funding cuts ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump.
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“It is heartbreaking that our government is ending a tradition of helping those most in need. Compassion for humanity is being replaced by political interests, and that is very unfortunate,” said Kat Rodriguez, an activist who worked for many years at Casa Alitas, one of the main migrant shelters in Tucson.
She emphasized that shelters provided temporary lodging and transportation services to asylum seekers after they were processed and released by Border Patrol. Since Monday, however, Border Patrol has stopped bringing migrants to the shelter.
Currently, there are no migrants or bus movements to Casa Alitas. This situation places Pima County in a precarious position, as even though there are no migrants in the shelters, these humanitarian centers continue to incur operating expenses.
On his first day as president, Trump signed an executive order suspending funding for assistance programs under the Department of Homeland Security’s Shelter Services Program (SSP). This institution does not cover shelter maintenance costs while there are no migrants present.
The Casa Alitas closure is a significant blow to activists who have fought for years to defend migrants. Its operational system served as a model for other shelters that opened in other border states to assist migrants.
“We see that we are facing four very tough years. The border closures and the shutdown of shelters will not stop irregular migration,” stated Rodriguez.
Pima County estimates that over the past six years, these shelters have provided assistance to more than half a million migrants, preventing them from being left homeless on the streets.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
