To stop waste, fraud, and abuse, Republican Representative Lance Gooden of Texas asked for a thorough audit of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) lobbying ?along the southern border on Wednesday, 12 February 2025. Under the Trump administration, Gooden’s request was sent to Secretary Kristi Noem of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
According to Gooden, many NGOs have conflicts of interest since they have agreements with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It is to help illegal aliens migrate, which allows them to profit from billions of dollars while simultaneously urging the federal government to keep its borders open.
President Donald Trump’s intention to assign the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) the responsibility of eradicating waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government aligns with this desire. NGOs lobbying are “knowingly assisting criminal aliens” and running a “human smuggling campaign on the backs of US taxpayers,” according to Gooden.
Main points of Gooden’s conflict
According to Gooden, NGOs have a conflict of interest since they advocate for open border policies while making money off of facilitating illegal migration. He asserts that unrestrained collaboration between federal agencies and non-governmental organizations has resulted in the waste of billions of taxpayer dollars. Between 2021 and 20241, FEMA alone provided at least $2.4 billion in shelter and services to undocumented migrants.
Regarding the role of NGOs in resettling illegal aliens, Gooden faults the previous administration for not offering sufficient answers or relevant materials. Gooden thanked DHS Secretary Kristi
Noem on her appointment and praised her for acting quickly to change previous DHS policies, including suspending funding that enabled NGOs to support and incentivize the border crisis, especially through FEMA.
He pledged to collaborate with DHS to comprehend the entire range of NGO operations and come up with a long-term solution to put an end to ?suspected cooperation. Concerns about NGOs’ growing involvement in what he claims is a driving force behind illegal immigration across the southern border have been raised by Gooden. He asserted in November that he had uncovered a covert scheme in which non-governmental organizations were giving migrants packs on how to integrate into the United States. To defund nonprofit groups he claims are involved in people smuggling and escalating the border problem, he sponsored the legislation.
What is Gooden’s plan for stopping human trafficking?
Gooden, House Budget Committee Ranking Member Jason Smith, and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik were the main characters who introduced an act of Stop Federal Funding for Human Trafficking. This legislation seeks to prevent federal contracts and funds from being sent to organizations unless they can affirm that they do not participate in human trafficking or smuggling. It also recommends that any organization determined to have knowingly violated federal law concerning these activities have its 501(c)3 tax-exempt status repealed.
In a letter to Catholic Charities USA, Gooden stated the organization rashly encourages, transports, and shelters undocumented aliens, thus encouraging illegal immigration.
To support future oversight or legislative demands from the US Congress, he asked the NGOs to keep any pertinent records and correspondence on enticing, transporting, and housing foreign nationals to travel to, enter, or live in the US.
Nonprofits misappropriated a portion of the $110 million from the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) for migrants met at the southern border, according to a study by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Homeland Security. The OIG discovered cases where money was transferred to undocumented immigrants who had gotten past Border Patrol. Additionally, the audit pointed out that groups failed to produce the necessary receipts and documentation, did not regularly spend the funds under standards, and did not offer supporting documentation for the individuals they provided services.
NGO accountability
There have been claims that NGOs conspired with traffickers. The aim of civil society about migrants is unsuppressed under these claims. Humanitarian aid is thought to be criminalized under some regulations. It is a very difficult situation to help migrants get out of this fear. A downfall can be seen by NGOs, which can decrease the trust level of the public and donations.
The focus of these attacks is occasionally shifted from migrants to those who rescue them. They frequently occur within larger political contexts characterized by anti-immigration rhetoric and attempts to redefine what constitutes illegality and crime.
