Sponsor
Lindsey O. Graham
Senator · R-SC
Senator · R-SC
The bill provides large, multi-year funding to expand border and immigration enforcement capacity and technology (improving staffing and some investigative capabilities) at the cost of substantial taxpayer outlays, increased enforcement-driven risks for immigrant communities, and heightened privacy and local-government tensions.
Federal border and immigration personnel (CBP, ICE, HSI, Border Patrol) will receive substantial new funding to hire, train, and equip staff, increasing staffing and operational capacity for border and interior enforcement.
Law enforcement and child-protection personnel will get $108.5M to hire child exploitation investigators and forensic analysts, improving ability to identify victims and prosecute offenders.
Border communities and law enforcement will see upgrades to biometric entry/exit systems, nonintrusive inspection, and air/marine surveillance platforms, strengthening screening and threat-detection capabilities.
Immigrant communities will face increased risk of arrest, detention, and deportation because of large new enforcement funding and the $350M reserved for arrests in noncooperating jurisdictions.
Taxpayers will bear tens of billions in new spending over FY2026–2029, increasing deficit pressure and potentially crowding out other federal priorities.
People crossing or living near the border will face greater privacy and civil liberties risks from expanded use of biometric entry/exit systems and enhanced surveillance technologies.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Appropriates multibillion dollars to CBP, ICE, and DHS for FY2026 (available through 2029) to expand hiring, technology, and enforcement while imposing specified limits and earmarks.
Provides multi-year appropriations for fiscal year 2026 to DHS components, splitting funding between non-immigration/customs border and mission support activities and immigration enforcement activities. It directs roughly $25.0 billion across CBP, ICE, and DHS core accounts for hiring, pay, training, equipment, technology, and operations; it also creates targeted line items (child exploitation investigators, biometric entry/exit, surveillance limits) and places restrictions on certain uses of funds. Funds are generally available through September 30, 2029; the bill distinguishes between funding for non-immigration/customs mission support and funding expressly for immigration enforcement, establishes definitions related to cooperation by state and local jurisdictions, and prohibits some activities (e.g., procurement of autonomous untested surveillance towers and certain recruiting/training after a specified date).
Official title: Secure America Act
Introduced May 20, 2026 by Lindsey O. Graham · Last progress June 10, 2026