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 reim-
bursing such communities for expenses related to security 
measures along the United States land border with Mex-
ico, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reimbursing Border 
Communities Act of 2023’’. 
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SEC. 2. BORDER COMMUNITY REIMBURSEMENT GRANT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
make grants to certain border communities for the pur-
pose of reimbursing such communities for expenses related 
to security measures along the United States land border 
with Mexico, including additional wages for local law en-
forcement providing security for such border. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a grant under 
this section, a border community— 
(1) shall be a unit of local government located 
in the United States within 200 miles of the land 
border with Mexico; 
(2) shall submit to the Secretary of Homeland 
Security an application in such form, at such time, 
and containing such information as the Secretary 
determines appropriate; and 
(3) may not be a sanctuary jurisdiction. 
(c) GRANT AMOUNT.—A grant made under sub-
section (a) may not exceed $500,000 for each fiscal year. 
(d) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.—Any grant 
awarded under this section may not be used to reimburse 
nonprofit organizations, to fund legal representation, or 
to provide educational, housing, food, or healthcare re-
sources to an alien. 
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(e) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter 
through 2033, the Secretary, acting through the Commis-
sioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that 
includes— 
(1) information relating to the— 
(A) use of each grant made under sub-
section (a); and 
(B) implementation of this section; and 
(2) any recommendations of the Secretary for 
improving the implementation of this section, includ-
ing with respect to the amount of funding provided 
to each recipient of a grant under this section. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘sanctuary jurisdiction’’ means a 
State or unit of local government that— 
(A) violates section 642 of the Illegal Im-
migration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility 
Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1373); 
(B) restricts compliance with a detainer 
issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security 
(or the Secretary’s designee); or 
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(C) has any law or policy in effect that vio-
lates the immigration laws. 
(2) The term ‘‘alien’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 101 of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101). 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fis-
cal years 2024 through 2034 to carry out this section. 
(h) CONDITIONAL LIMITATION ON SECRETARY.—The 
Secretary of Homeland Security may not use Federal 
funds for travel, except for travel to and along the United 
States land border with Mexico if— 
(1) funds are appropriated to carry out this 
section; and 
(2) the Secretary fails to implement the pro-
gram under this section before the date that is 180 
days after the appropriation of such funds. 
Æ 
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