A conservative group, the Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over unfulfilled information requests regarding federal spending on migrant sheltering and services. The lawsuit, filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), seeks details about HHS’s use of funds, specifically through its Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which oversees services provided to unaccompanied minors arriving at the U.S. southern border.
CASA’s FOIA request asked HHS for records detailing which non-governmental organizations (NGOs) received federal funds in the fiscal years 2023 and 2024. These funds, CASA alleges, were allocated for NGOs to provide a range of services to migrants, including housing, healthcare, legal assistance, and education. HHS did not respond to the request within the legal timeframe, prompting CASA’s lawsuit. According to the group, the documents are vital to ensuring transparency around taxpayer money spent on these services and are of “public interest” as they could shed light on the oversight of funds dedicated to migrant care.
CASA Director James Fitzpatrick highlighted growing concerns around the number of migrants entering the country and the resources required to support them, arguing that Americans “are entitled to know specifically how much money taxpayers are spending” on services for undocumented migrants. Fitzpatrick also stated that the lawsuit aims to compel HHS to release details on funding allocations, similar to reports previously provided by the ORR.
HHS’s ORR plays a significant role in assisting unaccompanied minors who arrive at the border. In most cases, Border Patrol hands over children without parents or guardians to HHS, which seeks to find sponsors for them within the United States, often family members. Since 2021, over 500,000 unaccompanied minors have entered the U.S., contributing to an increased demand for ORR’s resources and, consequently, higher federal spending.
The lawsuit reflects a broader debate over how taxpayer funds are used to support migrant services, a contentious topic in Congress and among the public. While nonprofits have traditionally played a key role in assisting vulnerable migrant populations, conservative groups and some lawmakers have expressed concerns that these funds may encourage unauthorized immigration or strain federal resources. Republicans, in particular, have scrutinized spending on NGOs aiding migrant resettlement, arguing it could constitute a misuse of taxpayer money that should be redirected elsewhere.
Although the FOIA law mandates government agencies to respond to requests within 20 business days, CASA asserts that HHS has exceeded this period. The lawsuit is thus positioned as a measure to enforce compliance, with CASA claiming the requested data is essential for evaluating federal spending practices related to migrant care.
The outcome of CASA’s lawsuit could impact how HHS approaches transparency and accountability in future allocations of funds to NGOs involved in migrant support. It may also influence the broader political discussion on how to balance humanitarian needs at the border with fiscal oversight, an issue that continues to be divisive within American communities and the government alike.
