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Judge rules against NYC in fight to get back $80M in federal migrant shelter funds
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Mar 5, 2025
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KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Mar 5, 2025
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A federal judge on Wednesday denied a request from New York City to temporarily block the federal government from pulling $80 million in emergency funding that went toward sheltering migrants.
But while New York federal Judge Jennifer Rearden denied the temporary restraining order, she ruled the lawsuit can proceed, officials said.
The Trump administration decided to claw back $80 million in FEMA funding last month as part of widespread cuts imposed by Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency. The move elicited harsh criticism from public officials, including city Comptroller Brad Lander – whose office confirmed the news to Gothamist on Wednesday.
“The case lives on and the New York City Law Department will need to keep fighting in court to recoup these funds seized illegally and stop Donald Trump from ripping off New York City again,” Lander, a mayoral candidate, said in a statement.
The $80 million is part of $200 million the city received from FEMA to help cover the costs of maintaining shelters for more than 230,000 migrants who have entered the city over the last three years.
Neither the Southern District of New York nor the mayor’s office immediately responded to requests for comment from Gothamist.
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new york city
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Asylum Seekers
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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