A bill to strengthen border security, increase resources for enforcement of immigration laws, and for other purposes.

To strengthen border security, increase resources for enforcement of immigration laws, and for other purposes. 1. State Criminal Alien Assistance Program Section 241(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1231(i) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by inserting Authorization If the chief (B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting and medical expenses incarceration (C) by inserting or an alien with an unknown status undocumented criminal alien (2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the following: (2) Compensation (A) Compensation of State for incarceration The Attorney General shall compensate a State or political subdivision of a State referred to in paragraph (1)(A), in accordance with subparagraph (B), for the incarceration of an alien— (i) whose immigration status cannot be verified by the Secretary of Homeland Security; and (ii) who would otherwise be an undocumented criminal alien if the alien is unlawfully present in the United States. (B) Calculation of compensation Compensation under subparagraph (A) shall be equal to the average cost of incarceration of a prisoner in the relevant State, as determined by the Attorney General. (3) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Alien with an unknown status The term alien with an unknown status (i) who has been incarcerated by a Federal, State, or local law enforcement entity; and (ii) whose immigration status cannot be definitively identified. (B) Undocumented criminal alien The term undocumented criminal alien (i) has been charged with or convicted of a felony or 2 misdemeanors; and (ii) (I) entered the United States without inspection or at any time or place other than as designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security; (II) was the subject of exclusion or deportation or removal proceedings at the time he or she was taken into custody by the State or a political subdivision of the State; or (III) was admitted as a nonimmigrant and, at the time he or she was taken into custody by the State or political subdivision— (aa) failed to maintain the nonimmigrant status in which the alien was admitted or to which it was changed under section 248; or (bb) failed to comply with the conditions of any such status. ; (3) in paragraph (4), by inserting and aliens with an unknown status undocumented criminal aliens (4) by striking paragraphs (5) and (6) and inserting the following: (5) Authorization of appropriations (A) In general There are authorized to be appropriated $950,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to carry out this subsection. (B) Limitation Amounts appropriated pursuant to subparagraph (A) that are distributed to a State or a political subdivision of a State, including a municipality, may be used only for correctional purposes. ; and (5) by adding at the end the following: (6) Distribution of reimbursement Any amounts provided to a State or a political subdivision of a State as compensation under paragraph (1)(A) for a fiscal year shall be distributed to such State or political subdivision not later than 120 days after the last day of the period specified by the Attorney General for the submission of requests under that paragraph for that fiscal year. .

Summary: This bill expands a Department of Justice (DOJ) program for compensating states and localities for costs related to the incarceration of certain aliens. Currently, the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) requires DOJ to compensate state and localities for the costs for incarcerating an undocumented criminal alien. The bill expands SCAAP to require DOJ to provide compensation for incarcerating aliens whose immigration status cannot be definitively identified. The bill also expands the definition of an "undocumented criminal alien" to include qualifying aliens who were charged with a felony or two misdemeanors, where the statute currently requires convictions of such crimes. The bill also authorizes the program through FY2024.