To help cities hit particularly hard by the influx, the administration official noted that the Federal Emergency Management Agency now has a regional administrator specifically dedicated to providing assistance in Chicago, New York and Washington. One of the most important issues these FEMA officials are helping is compensating cities, as quickly as possible, for the costs of dealing with the influx of immigrants. Meanwhile, officials from the White House, Department of Homeland Security and FEMA were also in regular contact with city officials, the official added. The White House acknowledges that the administration is currently facing a particularly difficult time, given threats by Republican governors to send migrants to certain cities, as well as the record number of people currently arriving at the US border. Asked about the Biden administration’s continued coordination with cities affected by the arrival of immigrants, the White House said it was making an “all-out effort” to help immigrants who Republican governors are using as “political pawns.” “As we continue to work with our regional partners to manage the new migration challenge posed by failed authoritarian regimes in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba, we are also leading a comprehensive effort to support cities welcoming people leaving communism that the Governor DeSantis and Governor Abbott are using as political pawns,” White House spokesman Abdullah Hassan said. “For example, FEMA has staff dedicated to supporting each city, expediting claims as they come in, mobilizing local service providers and nonprofit support, and working with other federal agencies to identify additional resources. We will continue to we do what we do. they can support cities as Gov. Abbott and Gov. DeSandis deliberately create chaos and confusion with their cruel political stunts.”
