Sponsors (12)
The bill provides a modest, predictable federal funding stream and reimbursements to help localities pay border-security costs and increases reporting transparency, but it forbids use of funds for migrant humanitarian aid, excludes many jurisdictions, and likely leaves significant costs on local taxpayers.
Local and county border governments and communities receive a predictable federal funding stream ($25 million per year, FY2026–FY2036) to support planning and activities related to border security.
Individual eligible border communities and local law enforcement within 200 miles can get reimbursements (up to $500,000 per year) to help cover certain security expenses, reducing some immediate local outlays.
Annual reporting to congressional homeland security committees increases transparency on how program funds are used and provides recommendations to improve implementation.
The authorized $25 million per year is likely small relative to total local border security costs, leaving many expenses to local taxpayers or forcing cuts to other local services.
Funds are explicitly barred from being used for humanitarian assistance (education, housing, food, healthcare) or legal representation for migrants, denying local options to support basic needs of migrants encountered at the border.
Broadly defined exclusions for 'sanctuary jurisdictions' make many nearby municipalities ineligible, creating uneven access to funds and likely political disputes between jurisdictions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a DHS grant program to reimburse eligible border communities for specified border-security costs, capping awards at $500,000 and authorizing $25M/year for FY2026–FY2036.
Introduced March 14, 2025 by Ronny Jackson · Last progress March 14, 2025
Provides an annual DHS grant program to reimburse eligible local governments within 200 miles of the U.S.–Mexico land border (excluding defined "sanctuary jurisdictions") for certain border-security expenses, including extra wages for local law enforcement. Individual grants are capped at $500,000 per year, and the statute authorizes $25 million per year for FY2026–FY2036, with funds subject to appropriation and detailed annual reporting to congressional homeland security committees through 2035.