Rep. Greg Steube Demands SBA Transparency on Disaster Assistance Awarded to Noncitizens Amid Program Exhaustion
WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) is demanding answers from Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabel Guzman regarding the agency’s allocation of disaster loan funds to “qualified aliens.” Following the SBA’s announcement that new disaster loan awards will be paused until Congress approves additional funds, Rep. Steube insists on full transparency of how many noncitizens received SBA disaster relief, particularly while American citizens are now forced to wait for 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’s letter demands specific data on how many disaster loans have been awarded to “qualified aliens” in 2024, the total amount of funds distributed, and whether the SBA keeps detailed records on the loans approved for each of the eight statutory noncitizens categories outlined in 8 U.S.C. § 1641(b).
Federal law defines a “qualified alien” to be an alien who meets one of eight eligibility requirements to apply for a federal public benefit such as SBA disaster loans. These categories range from individuals with permanent resident status to individuals present with temporary legal status.
Rep. Steube is demanding that the SBA provide the requested information by November 8, 2024, so Congress can thoroughly review how these disaster loan funds are being utilized.
