I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 725 

To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to certain 

border communities for the purpose of reimbursing such communities 

for expenses related to security measures along the United States land 

border with Mexico, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 1, 2023 

Mr. JACKSON of Texas (for himself, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. 

LAMALFA, Mr. MORAN, and Mr. BACON) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants 

to certain border communities for the purpose of reimbursing such communities for expenses related to security 

measures along the United States land border with Mexico, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reimbursing Border 

5 Communities Act of 2023’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. BORDER COMMUNITY REIMBURSEMENT GRANT 

2 PROGRAM. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap4 propriations, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 

5 make grants to certain border communities for the pur6 pose of reimbursing such communities for expenses related 

7 to security measures along the United States land border 

8 with Mexico, including additional wages for local law en9 forcement providing security for such border. 

10 (b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a grant under 

11 this section, a border community— 

12 (1) shall be a unit of local government located 

13 in the United States within 200 miles of the land 

14 border with Mexico; 

15 (2) shall submit to the Secretary of Homeland 

16 Security an application in such form, at such time, 

17 and containing such information as the Secretary 

18 determines appropriate; and 

19 (3) may not be a sanctuary jurisdiction. 

20 (c) GRANT AMOUNT.—A grant made under sub21 section (a) may not exceed $500,000 for each fiscal year. 

22 (d) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.—Any grant 

23 awarded under this section may not be used to reimburse 

24 nonprofit organizations, to fund legal representation, or 

25 to provide educational, housing, food, or healthcare re26 sources to an alien. 


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1 (e) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 

2 of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter 

3 through 2033, the Secretary, acting through the Commis4 sioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall sub5 mit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House 

6 of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Secu7 rity and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that 

8 includes— 

9 (1) information relating to the— 

10 (A) use of each grant made under sub11 section (a); and 

12 (B) implementation of this section; and 

13 (2) any recommendations of the Secretary for 

14 improving the implementation of this section, includ15 ing with respect to the amount of funding provided 

16 to each recipient of a grant under this section. 

17 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

18 (1) The term ‘‘sanctuary jurisdiction’’ means a 

19 State or unit of local government that— 

20 (A) violates section 642 of the Illegal Im21 migration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility 

22 Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1373); 

23 (B) restricts compliance with a detainer 

24 issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security 

25 (or the Secretary’s designee); or 


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1 (C) has any law or policy in effect that vio2 lates the immigration laws. 

3 (2) The term ‘‘alien’’ has the meaning given 

4 such term in section 101 of the Immigration and 

5 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101). 

6 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

7 authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fis8 cal years 2024 through 2034 to carry out this section. 

9 (h) CONDITIONAL LIMITATION ON SECRETARY.—The 

10 Secretary of Homeland Security may not use Federal 

11 funds for travel, except for travel to and along the United 

12 States land border with Mexico if— 

13 (1) funds are appropriated to carry out this 

14 section; and 

15 (2) the Secretary fails to implement the pro16 gram under this section before the date that is 180 

17 days after the appropriation of such funds. 

Æ 


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