Bill Summary
The "State Border Security Assistance Act" establishes two significant funds aimed at enhancing border security and addressing issues related to unlawful presence in the United States.
1. **State Border Security Reinforcement Fund**: This fund, managed by the Department of Homeland Security, is allocated $11 billion for fiscal year 2025 to support various border security measures. Eligible recipients, including states and local governments, can use these funds for activities such as constructing barriers along the southern border, conducting surveillance to prevent unlawful entry, and relocating unlawfully present individuals. The fund is set to operate until January 20, 2029, after which any remaining funds will be returned to the Treasury.
2. **State Criminal Alien Prosecution and Detention Fund**: This fund, under the Department of Justice, is allocated $3.5 billion for similar purposes related to criminal activities involving aliens. Grants can be used for locating and apprehending unlawfully present aliens, prosecuting related crimes, and maintaining detention facilities. Like the Border Security Fund, this fund will also terminate on January 20, 2029, with unspent amounts returned to the Treasury.
Overall, the act aims to reinforce state and local efforts in managing border security and addressing criminal activities linked to undocumented immigrants through substantial federal funding.
Possible Impacts
The "State Border Security Assistance Act" as outlined in the bill could affect people in the following ways:
1. **Increased Law Enforcement Presence and Activities**: The establishment of the State Criminal Alien Prosecution and Detention Fund may lead to increased law enforcement activities targeting individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States or who have committed crimes. This could result in more arrests and detentions, affecting immigrant communities by creating a climate of fear and uncertainty. Families may be separated, and individuals may be placed in detention centers, impacting their lives significantly.
2. **Economic Impact on Local Communities**: The allocation of funds for the construction of border barriers and surveillance systems may redirect financial resources away from other community needs such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Local governments receiving grants may prioritize spending on border security measures over essential services, which could negatively affect the quality of life for residents and strain budgets.
3. **Changes in Immigration Dynamics**: The provisions for relocating unlawfully present aliens from small population centers could disrupt local demographics and community structures. This might lead to tensions within communities, as these actions could be perceived as punitive or as a form of displacement, impacting social cohesion and the integration of immigrants into society. Additionally, the focus on prosecution and detention of aliens may deter undocumented individuals from seeking assistance or services, further marginalizing these populations.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1790 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1790
To establish the State Border Security Reinforcement Fund and the State
Criminal Alien Prosecution and Detention Fund, to make appropriations
to each of these funds, and to authorize the use of such amounts for
grants to eligible States, State agencies, and units of local
government for specified purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 15, 2025
Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mr. Cruz) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the State Border Security Reinforcement Fund and the State
Criminal Alien Prosecution and Detention Fund, to make appropriations
to each of these funds, and to authorize the use of such amounts for
grants to eligible States, State agencies, and units of local
government for specified purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``State Border Security Assistance
Act''.
SEC. 2. STATE BORDER SECURITY REINFORCEMENT FUND.
(a) Establishment of Fund.--There is established, in the Department
of Homeland Security, a fund, which shall be known as the ``State
Border Security Reinforcement Fund'' (referred to in this section as
the ``Fund''). The Secretary of Homeland Security shall use amounts
appropriated or otherwise made available for the Fund for grants to
eligible States, State agencies, including National Guard units, and
units of local government for any of the following purposes:
(1) Construction or installation of a border wall, border
fencing, or other barriers or buoys along the southern border
of the United States, which may include planning, procurement
of materials, and personnel costs related to such construction.
(2) Any work necessary to prepare the ground at or near the
United States border to allow construction or maintenance of a
border wall or other barrier fencing or effective surveillance.
(3) Information-gathering and surveillance to detect and
interdict the unlawful entry of persons or contraband across
the United States border.
(4) Relocation of aliens who are unlawfully present in the
United States from small population centers.
(b) Appropriation.--In addition to amounts otherwise available for
the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a),
there is appropriated in fiscal year 2025, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the Department of Homeland
Security for the Fund, $11,000,000,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2034, for qualified expenses that meet the purposes
described in subsection (a).
(c) Grant Eligibility of Completed, Ongoing, or New Activities.--
The Secretary of Homeland Security may provide grants under subsection
(a) to State agencies and units of local government for expenditures
they made for completed, ongoing, or new activities determined to be
eligible for such grant funding that occurred on or after January 20,
2021.
(d) Sunset.--The Fund shall terminate on January 20, 2029. Any
unobligated amounts remaining in the Fund on that date shall be
returned to the Treasury of the United States for deficit reduction
purposes.
SEC. 3. STATE CRIMINAL ALIEN PROSECUTION AND DETENTION FUND.
(a) Establishment of Fund.--There is established, in the Department
of Justice, a fund, which shall be known as the ``State Criminal Alien
Prosecution and Detention Fund'' (referred to in this section as the
``Fund''). The Attorney General shall use amounts appropriated or
otherwise made available for the Fund for grants to eligible States,
State agencies, including National Guard units, and units of local
government for any of the following purposes:
(1) Locating and apprehending aliens who are unlawfully
present in the United States or have committed a crime under
Federal, State, or local law.
(2) Intelligence and information-gathering to counter gang
activity.
(3) Investigating and prosecuting crimes committed by
aliens and drug and human trafficking crimes.
(4) Court operations related to the prosecution of crimes
committed by aliens and drug and human trafficking crimes.
(5) Temporarily detaining aliens, including costs related
to facility operations, personnel, and health and safety
related services.
(6) Transporting aliens described in paragraph (1) to
locations related to their apprehension, detention, and
prosecution.
(7) Vehicle maintenance, logistics, transportation, and
other support provided to law enforcement agencies by a State
agency to enhance their ability to locate and apprehend aliens
who have unlawfully entered the United States or have committed
crimes under Federal, State, or local law.
(b) Appropriation.--In addition to amounts otherwise available for
the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (a),
there is appropriated in fiscal year 2025, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the Department of Justice for
the Fund, $3,500,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2034,
for qualified expenses that achieve any such purposes.
(c) Grant Eligibility of Completed, Ongoing, or New Activities.--
The Attorney General may provide grants under subsection (a) to State
agencies and units of local government for expenditures they made for
completed, ongoing, or new activities determined to be eligible for
such grant funding that occurred on or after January 20, 2021.
(d) Sunset.--The Fund shall terminate on January 20, 2029. Any
unobligated amounts remaining in the Fund on that date shall be
returned to the Treasury of the United States for deficit reduction
purposes.
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