Refugee Revenue: US Conference of Catholic Bishops' $455 million in grant awards
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The federal government has outsourced the processing and care of refugees admitted to the United States to a myriad of tax-exempt non-profits and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

These organizations are often religiously affiliated, such as the DC-based United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). USCCB has been paid by the federal government for refugee resettlement services since 1975.

During the Biden Presidency, USCCB’s reported federal contracts and grants revenue for refugee assistance has increased dramatically:

• 2019 revenue: $14.6 million
• 2020 revenue: $20.2 million
• 2021 revenue: $67.5 million
• 2022 revenue: $122.6 million

According to USASpending, USCCB has been awarded over $450 million in refugee assistance grants since 2021. These grant awards include:

• $138 million for refugee reception and placement services, with $38.4 million specifically for evacuated Afghan refugees
• $110 million for the “Preferred Communities Program” (refugee aid program established in the 1990’s by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, includes one year of comprehensive assistance
• $48.8 million for USCCB’s Unaccompanied Alien Children program
• $66.1 million for general post-resettlement refugee assistance

USASpending lists the following grants to USCCB since 2021:

Administration for Children and Families grant (2021)
Amount: $110,721,974
Purpose: USCCB FY2022 preferred communities program
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2022)
Amount: $44,293,200
Purpose: 2022 voluntary agencies matching grant program
Link to award

Department of State grant (2023)
Amount: $38,770,526
Purpose: To ensure that all refugees approved for admission to the United States are provided with reception and placement services
Link to award

Department of State grant (2022)
Amount: $37,384,263
Purpose: Provide initial relocation support services for Afghans paroled into the United States
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2023)
Amount: $33,591,250
Purpose: 2023 voluntary agencies matching grant program
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2022)
Amount: $23,318,360
Purpose: GY 2022 refugee support services and set asides
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2023)
Amount: $22,370,348
Purpose: GY2023 refugee support services and set asides
Link to award

Department of State grant (2023)
Amount: $20,940,112
Purpose: To ensure that refugees admitted to the United States receive reception and placement services
Link to award

Department of State grant (2022)
Amount: $17,634,519
Purpose: To ensure that all refugees approved for admission to the United States are provided with reception and placement services appropriate to their personal circumstances
Link to award

Department of State grant (2021)
Amount: $17,142,103
Purpose: To provide reception and placement services to eligible recipients under the U.S. refugee admission program (USRAP)
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2021)
Amount: $17,024,905
Purpose: Residential long term foster care services for unaccompanied alien children
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2021)
Amount: $16,347,414
Purpose: Home study and post release services for unaccompanied alien children
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2024)
Amount: $7,623,000
Purpose: 2024 voluntary agencies matching grant
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2021)
Amount: $6,404,523
Purpose: 2021 voluntary agencies matching grant program
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2022)
Amount: $5,948,164
Purpose: GY2022 ORR refugee cash and medical assistance
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2023)
Amount: $5,699,292
Purpose: Residential (shelter and/or transitional foster care) services for unaccompanied children-licensed and Texas-exempt and Florida-delicensed only
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2023)
Amount: $5,354,882
Purpose: GY 2023 ORR refugee cash and medical assistance
Link to award

Department of State grant (2023)
Amount: $5,081,375
Purpose: To ensure that refugees admitted to the United States receive reception and placement services
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2023)
Amount: $5,070,055
Purpose: Residential (shelter and/or transitional foster care) services for unaccompanied children - licensed and Texas-exempt and Florida-delicensed only - with this grant, USCCB/MRS proposes to continue shelter and transitional foster care services through two sub-recipient programs: 1. Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia 2. Commonwealth Catholic Charities these sub-recipient programs are licensed child placement agencies experienced in providing services for vulnerable children and immigrant populations, including unaccompanied children. The two sub-recipients have established relationships with community partners to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to unaccompanied children in ORR/DUCO custody.
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2022)
Amount: $4,635,867
Purpose: Residential (shelter and/or transitional foster care) services for unaccompanied children-licensed and Texas-exempt and Florida-delicensed only
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2021)
Amount: $3,948,699
Purpose: GY2021 ORR refugee cash and medical assistance
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2024)
Amount: $3,000,000
Purpose: GY2024 refugee support services and set asides
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2024)
Amount: $1,098,605
Purpose: GY2024 ORR refugee cash and medical assistance
Link to award

Administration for Children and Families grant (2021)
Amount: $1,040,000
Purpose: GY2021 refugee support services and set asides
Link to award

Department of State grant (2023)
Amount: $994,500
Purpose: To ensure all Afghan refugees and Afghan sivs coming through the OAW/EW pipeline receive reception and placement services
Link to award

Department of State grant (2023)
Amount: $305,871
Purpose: Implement a formalized training program resulting in a refugee resettlement case management and leadership certificate
Link to award