Grant Integrity and Border Security Act

This bill adds a new rule for anyone seeking federal grant money. Applicants must promise they have not, in the past 10 years, helped illegally bring people into the U.S. or hide them, are not doing so now, and will not do so while using the grant. If an agency finds a grantee broke this rule, it must stop their grant funds. Agencies can rely on information from Homeland Security, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), convictions or admissions by the grantee’s employees, or other credible information to make that decision. The Department of Justice must also report to OMB when someone is convicted of, admits to, or is reasonably believed to have committed such a violation, within 90 days. A non-technical summary from the Library of Congress matches these points and confirms the 10-year lookback and fund withholding requirement.

Key points

• Who is affected: Anyone applying for federal grants, including governments, nonprofits, schools, and businesses.
• What changes: Applicants must certify they haven’t, aren’t, and won’t help bring in or hide people unlawfully; agencies must withhold funds if a violation is found, using reports from DOJ, Homeland Security, and other credible sources .
• When: DOJ must send related violation information to OMB within 90 days of a conviction, admission, or completed investigation; the bill otherwise adds the certification requirement for future grant applications and ongoing grants.