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
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.
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.