Biden Administration To Spend $86M To House Migrants In Hotels

President Joe Biden’s administration will spend $86 million for hotel rooms to house migrants near the U.S.-Mexico border to address the growing number of illegal families crossing into the country.

The administration has awarded the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a contract for these rooms to provide temporary shelter to migrants who have been placed in immigration proceedings for their removal from the U.S. The housing will last for six months, DHS officials told Axios Saturday.

The contract was made through a partnership with Endeavors, a nonprofit that offers housing services, disaster relief and other assistance. It will provide 1,239 beds and “other necessary services” such as victims services, therapeutic regimen, educational resources and home study.

The contract also awards migrant families with health assessments and testing for the coronavirus.

The latest decision to secure hotel rooms for migrants comes as the U.S. struggles to handle a growing number of migrants attempting to cross the border this year. Data released by the Customs and Border Protection showed that authorities at the southwest border apprehended around 19,000 families in February and 7,000 families in January.

ICE also caught nearly 15,000 unaccompanied children and minors crossing the border between January and February. At least 42% of their families were expelled to Mexico in February, down from 64% the previous month.

The surge in migrants is straining the administration’s resources and border towns, prompting Republicans to blame Biden’s immigration policies as the reason for the uptick.

After he was sworn in as president, Biden revoked several of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, including his ban on green cards.

“To the contrary, it harms the United States, including by preventing certain family members of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents from joining their families here,” Biden said in his proclamation.

“It also harms industries in the United States that utilize talent from around the world,” he continued. “IAnd it harms individuals who were selected to receive the opportunity to apply for, and those who have likewise received, immigrant visas through the Fiscal Year 2020 Diversity Visa Lottery.”