Secure America Act
Description
Provides $70 billion for border security technology, personnel hiring, and immigration enforcement activities through fiscal year 2029.
Summary
What it does
This act provides $70 billion in funding through fiscal year 2029 to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for border security and immigration enforcement. The law allocates resources for hiring and training Border Patrol agents, expanding child exploitation investigations, and deploying advanced surveillance technologies such as artificial intelligence and biometric entry-exit systems. Additionally, it funds the procurement of equipment to combat illicit narcotics trafficking and supports state and local law enforcement participation in federal immigration enforcement activities.
Who is affected
This act affects federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by providing funding for personnel hiring, technology procurement, and enforcement operations. It also impacts state and local law enforcement agencies through funding for 287(g) agreements and joint training to identify victims of child sexual exploitation. Additionally, the legislation targets the identification and rescue of child exploitation victims and the arrest of certain unlawful aliens.
Key provisions
- Funding for Border Patrol Personnel and Support. Allocates funds to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for hiring, training, and equipping Border Patrol agents and support staff for non-enforcement functions, with a restriction on hiring processing coordinators after October 31, 2028.
- Expansion of Homeland Security Investigations and Child Safety. Provides funding to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) personnel and operations, including dedicated resources for child exploitation investigators and forensics analysts to rescue victims and train local law enforcement.
- Border Security Technology and Narcotics Interdiction. Funds the procurement of nonintrusive inspection equipment, autonomous surveillance technologies, and biometric entry-exit systems to combat the trafficking of illicit narcotics, including fentanyl, across all U.S. borders.
- Immigration Enforcement Operations and Personnel. Authorizes funding for CBP and ICE to carry out immigration enforcement activities, including hiring agents, maintaining facilities and fleets, and executing operations to arrest certain unlawful aliens.
- State and Local Law Enforcement Partnerships. Supports the participation of state and local agencies in homeland security efforts and provides for 287(g) agreements, which allow local law enforcement to perform specific immigration enforcement functions.
Fiscal impact
- Estimated Budgetary Effects of S. 2, the Secure America Act· As cleared by the Congress on June 9, 2026
- Estimated Budgetary Effects of Amendment 5453 to S. 2, the Secure America Act· As posted on the website of the Senate Amendment Tracking System on June 3, 2026
- Estimated Budgetary Effects of S. 2, the Secure America Act· As reported by the Senate Committee on the Budget on May 20, 2026
Effective dates
The act provides funding through fiscal year 2029. Additionally, funds provided for hiring and training processing coordinators may not be used for those purposes after October 31, 2028.
Relationship to existing law
This bill functions as a reconciliation bill pursuant to the FY2026 congressional budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 33) and provides funding to support the biometric entry and exit system established under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. It also provides resources for 287(g) agreements, which allow state and local law enforcement agencies to perform certain federal immigration enforcement functions.
Stated purpose
The bill provides $70 billion in funding through fiscal year 2029 to enhance border security and immigration enforcement operations. Its primary objectives include expanding personnel for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, deploying advanced surveillance and inspection technologies to combat illicit narcotics trafficking, and supporting investigations into child sexual exploitation.