Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) blasted Democratic leadership for New York getting funding for handling immigrants from the southern border rather than border communities getting the extra funding.
The $104.6 million grant from FEMA was announced by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) in June. Of the $291 million in funds allocated by FEMA in 2023, only a fraction, roughly $39 million, went to communities in Arizona. The former Democratic-turned-independent senator from the Grand Canyon State told Politico it is "important for people to know" why the Empire State got more funds than Arizona.
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“It’s fairly obvious. I don’t know if you noticed, but the announcement about that $104 million came out first, in a joint press release from Schumer and Jeffries — not from the White House or from FEMA. The first news of it broke by their press release,” Sinema said, referring to the amount granted to New York.
“Now, how did that happen?” Sinema told the outlet.
New York has been under increased strain from the influx of immigrants being offered transportation to the state from officials on the southern border in the past year.
While speaking with reporters earlier this month, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) said that New York state is struggling to provide immigrants with resources and needs help from the White House, warning that the issue will cost Democrats a chance at retaking the House in 2024.
"Here's the thing. Democrats are looking bad right now in New York state, and that's unacceptable when we have to win at least four congressional seats to take back the House, so hopefully, the president is listening," Bowman said.
The White House requested $600 million to help relieve shelters for immigrants in an emergency spending request last week.
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Sinema also told Politico that there is a “lack of understanding of what the experience is like in border communities, and a willingness to shortchange the work that is happening in those communities without realizing the impact it has on the entire system." She added that is it “very frustrating."
The Arizona independent has not confirmed if she will run for reelection to her Senate seat in 2024, but she has filed paperwork allowing her to fundraise for a reelection bid. Sinema left the Democratic Party in December 2022 and would likely be involved in a three-way race if she runs for reelection.