KJP criticized the mixed messages following Hurricane Helene regarding whether FEMA resources would be used for migrants

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is facing intense criticism after sending mixed messages last week about whether the Biden-Harris administration has used FEMA resources to support migrants.

Jean-Pierre flatly denied that FEMA funds were going to migrants in a press conference last week, but said the opposite when asked about the issue in fall 2022.

“Former President Trump accuses the Biden administration of using FEMA funds to support undocumented immigrants. “How is the White House responding to this?” a reporter asked during a press conference on Friday.

“I mean, it's just categorically wrong. It's not true. It’s a false statement,” Jean-Pierre responded, citing a Washington Post fact-check article on the subject.

Lawmakers outraged over concerns about FEMA funding

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Wednesday that FEMA, which he oversees, may not have enough funding to get through hurricane season. But officials say the disaster relief funding comes from a different part of the FEMA budget than the reported $1.4 billion in FEMA funds spent over the past two years to address the refugee crisis.

Critics on social media compared Jean-Pierre's statement to comments from 2022 in which she appeared to specifically indicate that FEMA resources were available to illegal immigrants.

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She made this statement during a press conference on September 16, 2022, when Jean-Pierre was asked if he wanted to help cities cope with the busloads of migrants being sent across the country from Texas.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre made conflicting statements about whether FEMA funds are going to migrants. (White House)

“FEMA regional administrators have met with local city officials to coordinate available federal assistance from FEMA and other federal agencies,” Jean-Pierre told reporters at the time.

The geographical area of ​​the hurricane disaster is “vast”: MP JARED MOSKOWITZ

“Through FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter program, funding is also available to eligible local governments and nonprofit organizations upon request to support humanitarian assistance to migrants,” she added.

The Biden-Harris administration's use of FEMA funds is being reviewed in light of catastrophic flooding in North Carolina. Vice President Kamala Harris announced a $100 million package to support the state.

But critics pointed out that the package was much smaller than the $157 million in foreign humanitarian aid Harris announced for Lebanon the same day.

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“The people of Lebanon are facing an increasingly dire humanitarian situation. “I am concerned about the safety and well-being of the civilians suffering in Lebanon and will continue to work to meet the needs of all civilians there,” she wrote on X.

Vice President Kamala Harris joined a group of volunteers in North Carolina on Saturday to put together emergency aid packages. (Pool)

“To this end, the United States will provide nearly $157 million in additional assistance to the Lebanese people for vital needs such as food, shelter, water, shelter and sanitation to assist those displaced by the recent conflict . This is an additional “support brings total U.S. assistance to Lebanon last year to over $385 million,” she added.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to note the Biden administration's position that this spending did not impact the portion of the FEMA budget set aside for disaster relief because FEMA funds spent on the migrant crisis came from a different funding source came from.