Congresswoman Tenney Urges Governor Hochul to Pursue Federal Border Security Funding for New York

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today sent a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul urging her administration to immediately apply for funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's State Border Security Reinforcement Fund (SBSRF), following reports that New York's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services does not intend to apply for the available federal funding.

The SBSRF, authorized by Congress and administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), provides nearly $10 billion to help states strengthen border security and equip state and local law enforcement. New York has until July 6, 2026, to apply for the funding, which could help law enforcement detect illicit drugs, combat human trafficking, apprehend illegal aliens, and strengthen public safety along the U.S.-Canada border. Tenney warned that failing to apply would deny New York law enforcement access to critical federal resources while placing additional financial burdens on local agencies already carrying out border security missions. She urged Governor Hochul to reverse course and submit a complete application before the deadline.

"Governor Hochul's refusal to pursue available federal border security funding puts politics ahead of public safety," said Congresswoman Tenney. "New York shares the longest international border of any state, and the dedicated men and women protecting our northern border deserve every available resource to stop illegal immigration, human trafficking, and the flow of dangerous drugs into our communities. President Trump and Republicans in Congress secured this funding to strengthen border security and support local law enforcement. There is no excuse for refusing resources that would help keep New Yorkers safe. I urge Governor Hochul to reverse course immediately and apply before the July 6 deadline so our law enforcement officers have the tools they need to keep our communities safe."

Wayne County Sheriff Rob Milby stressed that local law enforcement cannot afford to leave these resources on the table and urged the state to pursue the available funding.

"Wayne County is just one of 12 counties that have an international border with Canada. There are state routes that have access to the ports of entry in New York, which are numerous. Border Patrol, the RCMP, and the Canada Border Services Agency are hard at work to detect criminal enterprise at our borders, but cannot do it alone," said Wayne County Sheriff Rob Milby. "Agencies across this state see the effects of what does make it across the border. We are the ones that have to knock on the doors of parents to notify them of their children's overdoses. This funding would allow our offices to receive the training and equipment that we need to enforce the issues that are occurring at our borders. Those issues include drug smuggling, weapons smuggling, and human trafficking. In an effort to protect the citizens of our county to the best of our abilities, we need to take advantage of any grant funding that is offered to our communities. Anything less than that would be irresponsible. Law enforcement must work together at all levels in order to properly protect our communities."

Read the full letter here.

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