March 14, 2025
Mr. Jackson of Texas (for himself, Ms. De La Cruz, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Luttrell, Mr. Ellzey, Mr. Pfluger, Mr. Gooden, Mr. Babin, Mr. Gill of Texas, Mr. Sessions, and Mr. Gosar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to certain border communities for the purpose of reimbursing such communities for expenses related to security measures along the United States land border with Mexico, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Reimbursing Border Communities Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Border community reimbursement grant program
(a) In general
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall make grants to certain border communities for the purpose of reimbursing such communities for expenses related to security measures along the United States land border with Mexico, including additional wages for local law enforcement providing security for such border.
(b) Eligibility
To be eligible for a grant under this section, a border community—
(1)
shall be a unit of local government located in the United States within 200 miles of the land border with Mexico;
(2)
shall submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate; and
(3)
may not be a sanctuary jurisdiction.
(c) Grant amount
A grant made under subsection (a) may not exceed $500,000 for each fiscal year.
(d) Limitation on use of funds
Any grant awarded under this section may not be used to reimburse nonprofit organizations, to fund legal representation, or to provide educational, housing, food, or healthcare resources to an alien.
(e) Report
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter through 2035, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that includes—
(1)
information relating to the—
(A)
use of each grant made under subsection (a); and
(B)
implementation of this section; and
(2)
any recommendations of the Secretary for improving the implementation of this section, including with respect to the amount of funding provided to each recipient of a grant under this section.
(f) Definitions
In this section:
(1)
The term sanctuary jurisdiction means a State or unit of local government that—
(A)
violates section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1373);
(B)
restricts compliance with a detainer issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security (or the Secretary’s designee); or
(C)
has any law or policy in effect that violates the immigration laws.
(2)
The term alien
has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101).
(g) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2036 to carry out this section.