A recent audit revealed that the Biden administration funneled more than $22.6 billion in grants toward illegal immigrants over a four-year span, providing financial aid for housing, business loans, and credit-building programs. The money was distributed through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which has significantly expanded its grant programs since 2020.

Documents show that ORR awarded billions to nonprofit organizations that provided illegal immigrants with various forms of financial assistance. Among the benefits offered were home loans, car purchases, and small-business startup funds of up to $15,000. Some grant programs also helped recipients repair their credit history with loans of up to $1,500 and provided dollar-for-dollar savings matching plans.

The spending peaked in fiscal year 2023, when ORR distributed over $10 billion. This surge in funding coincided with a record-breaking 2.4 million apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border, leading to concerns that the availability of these taxpayer-funded benefits acted as an incentive for illegal crossings.

The largest portion of the spending—$12.4 billion—was allocated for unaccompanied minors, despite mounting concerns over the agency’s handling of those children. Federal whistleblowers raised alarms about ORR losing track of thousands of minors placed with sponsors, some of whom were later found to be unfit guardians. Critics pointed to the lack of proper background checks as a major failure in the program.

Watchdog group OpenTheBooks highlighted another concern—the potential conflict of interest involving ORR officials. Robin Dunn Marcos, a key figure in overseeing the program for migrant children, had previously worked for nonprofit groups that later received ORR grants. Though she recused herself from funding decisions related to former employers, questions remain about how the grants were allocated and whether favoritism influenced the process.

The issue of federal funds supporting illegal immigrants has also drawn attention to other government spending programs. FEMA faced backlash after allocating $80 million to house migrants in New York City hotels, a move that was later reversed under the Trump administration. As scrutiny intensifies, more details are likely to emerge about how taxpayer money was used in these programs.