West Florida News

U.S. Representative Greg Steube from Florida is seeking clarity from Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabel Guzman regarding the allocation of disaster loan funds to "qualified aliens." This request follows the SBA's recent announcement that new disaster loan awards will be paused until Congress approves additional funding. Rep. Steube emphasizes the need for transparency, particularly as American citizens are now facing delays in receiving critical disaster recovery aid.

“It’s unacceptable that as Floridians struggle to rebuild after three major hurricanes, disaster relief funds may be going to noncitizens while American citizens are left waiting,” said Rep. Steube. “The Biden-Harris administration has expanded parole programs for illegal immigrants. How many individuals admitted under these lenient policies are now eligible for SBA disaster relief? Particularly now that the SBA has exhausted their disaster loan program funds, it’s critical that the SBA is transparent about how much funding they’ve distributed to noncitizens.”

Rep. Steube has requested specific data on the number of disaster loans awarded to "qualified aliens" in 2024, including the total amount of funds distributed and whether detailed records are maintained for each of the eight statutory noncitizen categories outlined in 8 U.S.C. § 1641(b).

Federal law defines a "qualified alien" as someone who meets one of eight eligibility requirements to apply for federal public benefits such as SBA disaster loans. These categories include individuals with permanent resident status and those present with temporary legal status.

Rep. Steube is asking the SBA to provide this information by November 8, 2024, so Congress can thoroughly review how these disaster loan funds are being utilized.