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GAO-23-106147 1 (2023-04-19)

handle is hein.gao/gaooml0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Why This Matters Key Takeaways In recent years, the U.S. has experienced a significant number of noncitizens arriving at the southwest border. The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported over 2.3 million encounters with noncitizens at the southwest border in fiscal year (FY) 2022, up from over 1.7 million in FY 2021.1 DHS releases some of these noncitizens into the U.S. while they await the outcome of their removal proceedings in immigration court. When releasing these noncitizens into the U.S., DHS components such as CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may coordinate with nonprofit organizations (nonprofits) that provide services such as food, shelter, and transportation. Additionally, DHS's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides grant funding to some nonprofits that offer services to individuals and families encountered by DHS.2 This report includes information on the actions DHS has taken to coordinate with nonprofits providing services to the noncitizens it releases into the U.S., and the extent to which DHS has used grants and contracts to provide funds to these nonprofits. CBP and ICE officials we interviewed at locations in states along the southwest border said they coordinate with local nonprofits that provide services, such as food, shelter, and travel assistance, to noncitizens after they are released from custody. About two-thirds (16 of 25) of CBP and ICE locations in states along the southwest border reported coordinating with local nonprofits. CBP, ICE, and nonprofit officials identified maintaining good communication and relationship-building as important for efficient coordination. They also described experiencing challenges related to coordination and provision of services. For example, they reported experiencing difficulties in: (1) planning for fluctuation in the number of noncitizens released over time, (2) having enough capacity to meet the high volumes of noncitizens needing services, and (3) coordinating on timing and logistics in transporting noncitizens. FEMA's Emergency Food and Shelter Program is the only DHS grant program that has provided funding to nonprofits providing services to noncitizens after they are released from custody. According to DHS, this grant program is intended to help local communities around the country better manage the costs of noncitizen arrivals in their communities. The Emergency Food and Shelter Program provided more than $282 million in humanitarian relief grant funding to nonprofit and governmental organizations that provided services to noncitizens in FYs 2019, 2021, and 2022.3 DHS has not entered into any contracts with nonprofits to provide services to noncitizens after they are released from custody. Page 1 GAO-23-106147 SOUTHWEST BORDER Page 1 GAO-23-106147 SOUTHWEST BORDER

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