Tucson, AZ – The Pima County Attorney’s Office is proud to announce the recovery of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following litigation in federal court.

PCAO’s Civil Division attorneys joined with Denver and Chicago to file a lawsuit seeking reimbursement for funds that had been awarded to Pima County as part of the Shelter and Services Program (SSP).The Pima County Attorney’s Office has recouped close to $9.7 million dollars in federal funds owned to the County.

The Biden Administration era program helped to provide temporary food, shelter, transportation, and other services to migrants released from federal custody. FEMA later stopped processing the county’s request for repayment under the new Trump Administration, even though the County had already provided and paid for the services. This occurred after FEMA approved funding made its way through Congress.

A federal court ordered FEMA to stop withholding the funds and process the repayments. After months of delays, FEMA paid the County back in two lump sums. One on August 26, 2026, and the other on September 8th, totaling nearly $9.7 million dollars.

*Full details are provided in the description section of the YouTube statement*

The Pima County Attorney’s Office is committed to restorative justice, transparency, and accountability as the focus of a mission that also seeks alternatives to incarceration when appropriate, provides support for victims, and strives to be inclusive and equitable to all segments of the communities we serve in the pursuit of public safety and well-being.

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Media Contact: Shawndrea Thomas

Director of Communications

Pima County Attorney’s Office

(520) 724-5738 (Office)

Shawndrea.Thomas@pcao.pima.gov