The Washington Post reported Wednesday that one of President Donald Trump's latest plans is to mandate that aid organizations like churches must check whether someone is a citizen before they give them food, clothing or any other aid.
"There is no historical context for this," FEMA historian Scott Robinson, an emergency management expert, told the Washington Post. “The notion that the federal government would use these operations for surveillance is entirely new territory.”
The report stated that such organizations include large groups such as the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.
The report didn't say whether or not Trump intends to threaten the faith-based groups with removing their tax status or arresting religious leaders, or if it's nothing more than one of his ideas that will fade into the background without any real enforcement of the demand.
The mere suggestion that the government would dictate what a religious institution could and couldn't do to help people inspired rage to bubble across social media.
"This is truly evil. Trump wants to make the Red Cross and the Salvation Army quiz people about citizenship status before offering aid, and bar them from offering assistance to anyone who is undocumented," wrote Immigration Council senior fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick on X.
"Telling a religious organization, 'if you feed a starving child without first ensuring they are here legally, you're banned from all government contracts, ' is evil. Full stop," he added. "It is anti-Christian, anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, anti-Hindu... anti-EVERY religion."
"Sorry, have your documents been washed away by another 100-year flood? Skin brown? We can't help you," commented scientist and entrepreneur Danielle Fong.
Nonprofit executive RJ Sauter questioned, "For all those Fake Christians out there, you can’t support this and legitimately call yourself a true Christian. Do you think Jesus would ask citizenship questions or party affiliation before helping??"
"When disaster hits, we cannot only help those with certain legal status. We have an obligation to help every single person in need. This is unfathomable discrimination against immigrants that will cost our country lives," wrote Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
Journalist Charles Fishman called it "crazy" and noted, "The cruelty is the point. Clearly. Trump Admin trying to crush even charity."
Former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer was furious at the Post headline, saying that the report "claim[s] that DHS stopping illegals from getting federal aid 'would make it harder for nonprofits to help the most vulnerable Americans."
Photojournalist Steve Rhodes told Spicer, "It is real."
"Having covered fires in California, it would make it slower and more difficult. It would also violate religious liberty. Catholic and other religious groups will provide aid to anyone, but King Trump, who doesn’t go to church, wants to tell them how to practice their faith," said Rhodes.