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Border Patrol denies paying migrants' flights.
FEMA reimburses nonprofits that pay for migrant travel, but this has nothing to do with Border Patrol.
Published July 6, 2024 at 5:00pm by
# Robert F. Kennedy Jr. falsely claims Border Patrol pays migrants' plane tickets
"Border Patrol agents take migrants 'to the Yuma airport, put them on a plane to any destination they want... And they pay their ticket. And then they get reimbursement from FEMA.'"
The Facts: Kennedy claimed that Border Patrol pays for migrants' plane tickets to anywhere in the US and that FEMA reimburses them. The Department of Homeland Security, immigration experts, and PolitiFactRate this claim all confirm that Border Patrol does not pay for immigrants' travel. FEMA has programs that provide funding to nonprofits and local governments assisting migrants, including transportation costs. However, FEMA does not reimburse Border Patrol.
Sources:
- Politifact: How viable is Donald Trump’s 2024 immigration plan?
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s post on X
- Politifact: Claims about free cellphones and plane tickets for migrants
- DHS: ICE Air Operations
- NYT: 'Ghost Flights' and transporting migrant children
- FEMA: Shelter and Services Program
- FEMA: Emergency Food and Shelter Program
- GAO report on DHS coordination with nonprofits
Read more: Border Patrol does not pay for migrants’ flights, despite Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claim