HR2128-119

What This Bill Does

The Reimbursing Border Communities Act creates a DHS grant program for certain border communities. Subject to appropriations, DHS must reimburse eligible local governments for expenses related to security measures along the United States land border with Mexico, including additional wages for local law enforcement providing border security. An eligible border community must be a unit of local government in the United States within 200 miles of the land border with Mexico, must apply in the form DHS requires, and may not be a sanctuary jurisdiction. Grants are capped at $500,000 per fiscal year. Funds may not be used to reimburse nonprofit organizations, fund legal representation, or provide education, housing, food, or health care resources to an alien. DHS, through the CBP Commissioner, must report within one year and annually through 2035 to House and Senate homeland security committees on grant use, implementation, and recommendations for improvements including funding levels. The bill defines sanctuary jurisdiction to include violations of 8 U.S.C. 1373, restrictions on DHS detainer compliance, or laws or policies violating immigration laws, and authorizes $25 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2036.

Who Benefits and How

Eligible border local governments benefit from reimbursement for security costs and local law enforcement wages near the U.S.-Mexico border. Local law enforcement agencies benefit if grant funds reimburse additional border-security wages. Border residents in reimbursed jurisdictions benefit if local governments can offset security spending without cutting other services. Congressional homeland security committees benefit from annual CBP reports on grants, implementation, and funding recommendations.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Sanctuary jurisdictions are excluded from reimbursement eligibility. DHS must administer applications, grant caps, restrictions, and annual reporting through 2035. CBP must collect grant-use information and submit annual reports to Congress. Local governments receiving grants may not use the money for nonprofit reimbursement, legal representation, education, housing, food, or health care resources for aliens.

Key Provisions

• Creates DHS reimbursement grants for local governments within 200 miles of the U.S.-Mexico land border.
• Limits grants to $500,000 per fiscal year and excludes sanctuary jurisdictions.
• Bars grant use for nonprofit reimbursement, legal representation, or education, housing, food, or health care resources for aliens.
• Requires annual CBP reports through 2035 on grant use, implementation, and recommendations.
• Authorizes $25 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2036.