This bill would provide $4.59 billion in funding to address the humanitarian and security crisis at the Southern border. It would provide funding for the care of migrants and unaccompanied alien children (UACs) in detention centers, increase resources for immigration courts to speed up case processing times, and prevent the diversion of funds from other programs to cope with the influx of migrants. A detailed breakdown of this bill’s provisions can be found below.
Homeland Security
Within the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would receive the following:
$793 million for establishing and operating migrant care and processing facilities to improve conditions at border stations and ports of entry.
$112 million for migrant medical care and consumable goods such as clothing, baby formula, hygiene products, and other essential items.
$110 million for travel & overtime costs for DHS staff supporting CBP’s mission.
$50 million to improve immigration data systems and tools.
$35 million for transportation of migrants between facilities.
This section would also include provisions emphasizing CBP’s efforts to meet national standards within migrant processing facilities and CBP’s continued commitment to staffing along the Northern border.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would receive:
$48 million for the transportation of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) and migrants among facilities.
$45 million for detainee medical care.
$70 million for travel, overtime costs, and pay adjustments for on-board DHS staff supporting ICE’s mission.
$21 million for Homeland Security Investigations counter-human trafficking operations.
$20 million for alternatives to detention.
$5 million for background investigations and facilities inspections by the Office of Professional Responsibility.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would receive $30 million to reimburse states, local governments, and non-governmental organizations for care of homeless migrants.
Other provisions of this section would:
Stipulate that funding provided under this bill can only be used for the purpose it’s provided.
Extend the authorization of a portion of DHS’ research & development authority.
Prohibit the unilateral transfer of certain operations between certain DHS facilities.
Eliminate certain paperwork that would otherwise be required for components of DHS to volunteer in assisting with the humanitarian crisis on the Southwest border.
Require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to produce a report on requirements related to immigration judges and asylum officers.
Health & Human Services
This section would provide $2.88 billion for the Dept. of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) program to cope with a 60% increase in the number of UACs detained over the last year. It’d allow HHS to resume offering a full range of services for children in their care and prevent the diversion of funds from other programs.
It would also include the following provisions aimed at ensuring the safety and welfare of UACs in HHS custody:
HHS would receive dedicated funding to expand its traditional state-licensed shelter capacity, post-release services to ensure children’s well-being, and the Office of Inspector General to expand its oversight of the UAC program.
The prioritization of community-based residential care and licensed facilities over large facilities.
Require HHS to provide guidance to shelter providers to ensure their awareness of current law requirements.
Administration policies on background checks and information sharing would be codified into law.
Influx shelters would only be used as a last resort, meet child welfare standards, and include frequent monitoring. A 15-day notification period would be required prior to opening an influx facility.
Senators and members of Congress would have access to shelters for oversight purposes.
HHS would be required to provide publicly available information on UACs who’ve been separated from a parent, including for child safety or welfare concerns.
Justice
This section would provide $65 million to the Executive Office for Immigration Review, which would facilitate 30 new immigration judge teams and fund the Legal Orientation Program to educate detainees about the immigration court process and thus expedite immigration court proceedings.
It would also provide $155 million to the U.S. Marshals Service for emergency expenditures related to the housing, transportation, and care of federal immigration detainees.
Defense
This section would provide $145 million to support multiple missions at the border, including the use of rotary-wing aviation support, strategic lift, medical assistance, mobile surveillance, command and control, and maintenance activities. Funds would go to the operation and maintenance accounts of the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Army National Guard.
