Funding of Hotel, Meal Costs for Refugees and Illegal Immigrants at $769M in 2023

Federal funding of hotel rooms and meals for refugee applicants and illegal immigrants cost $769 million this year, with the length of hotel stays ranging from weeks to months, according to the Department of Immigration. “There are two mechanisms of funding. The first one is the interim lodging sites, which are the hotels,” said Nathalie Manseau, chief financial officer for the immigration department, during her testimony at the Senate National Finance Committee. “The anticipated expenditure for this fiscal year is $557 million. We still have a few months in the year, so it’s anticipated spending. The other is the interim housing assistance program, the $212 million.”...