Secure America Act
Last recorded step: Became Law, Jun 10, 2026.
Provides $70 billion through FY2029 for border security technology, child exploitation investigations, and immigration enforcement.
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 to hire and train personnel, upgrade border surveillance and air-and-marine response technologies, and deploy artificial intelligence to detect illicit narcotics like fentanyl. Additionally, it funds the expansion of child exploitation investigations and supports state and local law enforcement participation in federal immigration enforcement activities.
Who is affected
This act affects personnel within the Department of Homeland Security, specifically U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), by providing funding for hiring and training Border Patrol agents, Homeland Security Investigations agents, and child exploitation investigators. State and local law enforcement agencies are also affected through funding for 287(g) agreements and training related to identifying victims of child sexual exploitation. Additionally, the legislation impacts victims of child sexual abuse through expanded rescue efforts and targets individuals involved in the trafficking of illicit narcotics, such as fentanyl.
Key provisions
- Funding for Border Patrol Personnel and Support. Provides funding to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire, train, and equip Border Patrol agents and support staff for non-enforcement functions. The act prohibits using these specific funds to hire or train processing coordinators after October 31, 2028.
- Expansion of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Capabilities. Allocates funds to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for HSI operations, including the hiring of additional child exploitation investigators and forensics analysts. These personnel will focus on identifying and rescuing victims of child sexual abuse and training state and local law enforcement.
- Border Security Technology and Narcotics Interdiction. Funds the procurement of nonintrusive inspection equipment, artificial intelligence, and surveillance technologies to combat illicit narcotics trafficking at all U.S. borders. It restricts the deployment of surveillance towers unless they have been tested and accepted by CBP to deliver autonomous capabilities.
- Immigration Enforcement and Operations Funding. Provides resources to CBP and ICE for direct immigration enforcement activities, including personnel hiring, transportation, and facility maintenance. It specifically funds 287(g) agreements that allow state and local law enforcement to perform certain immigration enforcement functions.
- State and Local Law Enforcement Integration. Authorizes additional funding for the assignment of state officers to carry out immigration enforcement activities and supports the participation of state and local agencies in broader homeland security efforts.
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, it specifies that funds provided for Customs and Border Protection personnel may not be used to recruit, hire, or train processing coordinators after October 31, 2028.
Relationship to existing law
This bill is a reconciliation measure submitted 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 funds 287(g) agreements, which allow state and local law enforcement agencies to perform specific federal immigration enforcement functions.
Stated purpose
The bill aims to enhance border security and immigration enforcement by providing $70 billion in funding to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through fiscal year 2029. Key objectives include expanding personnel for border operations, deploying advanced surveillance and nonintrusive inspection technologies to combat illicit narcotics trafficking, and increasing resources for child exploitation investigations and general immigration enforcement activities.