State Border Security Assistance Act

This bill would set up two big grant funds to help states and local governments with border security and criminal enforcement. One fund in the Department of Homeland Security would pay for things like building or maintaining border walls, fencing, or buoys along the southern border; preparing the ground for barriers or surveillance; border surveillance; and moving people who are unlawfully present out of small towns. It provides $11 billion for this fund.

A second fund in the Department of Justice would support finding and arresting people who are unlawfully present or who have committed crimes, fighting gang activity, investigating and prosecuting crimes by noncitizens and drug or human trafficking crimes, running courts tied to those cases, detention costs, transportation, and law enforcement support like vehicles and logistics. It provides $3.5 billion for this fund.

• Who is affected: States, state agencies (including National Guard units), and local governments can apply for grants.
• What changes: New federal grants for border barriers and surveillance, and for arrest, prosecution, court operations, detention, and transport related to these cases.
• When: Money is appropriated starting in fiscal year 2025. Costs going back to January 20, 2021 can qualify. Both funds end on January 20, 2029; any unused money then goes back to the U.S. Treasury. The appropriated money is available for eligible expenses through September 30, 2034.