Rep. Ciscomani requests investigation into use of federal funds by Casa Alitas [Video]

Rep. Juan Ciscomani sent a letter Tuesday, Aug. 20, requesting that the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security investigate the use of federal funds by Catholic Community Services’ Casa Alitas in Tucson.

Casa Alitas is a humanitarian aid project that shelters and assists migrant families after they are released from ICE and Border Patrol detention.

It disclosed in May that one of the vendors providing services to the Casa Alitas’ Drexel shelter was working without a contract and that there was a familial conflict of interest.

That violated County and federal procurement rules for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Shelter Services Program (SSP) grant, County Administrator Jan Lesher said in a memo at the time to the Pima County Board of Supervisors.

CCS Chief Executive Officer Elena Dwyre issued a statement mentioned in the memo that said the organization also had been overcharged for services by …