This bill, titled the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, provides funding for the Department of Homeland Security and extends certain continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2026. It allocates money for various DHS components including border security, immigration enforcement, cybersecurity, disaster relief, and law enforcement training. The bill also includes the SAVE America Act, which requires states to verify voter citizenship through documentary proof and mandates photo identification for voting in federal elections. Additionally, it establishes reporting requirements for DHS budgeting and oversight, and prohibits certain border crossing fees.
This bill appropriates federal funding for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2026 and includes several policy reforms affecting immigration enforcement and oversight. It provides billions of dollars in operating and procurement funds for agencies like Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Coast Guard, while establishing new reporting requirements and restrictions on how those funds can be used. The legislation mandates body cameras for immigration agents, requires standardized uniforms and training for ICE officers, and limits detention of U.S. citizens to cases with probable cause of criminal activity. It also prohibits new border crossing fees, restricts certain surveillance systems, and requires enhanced oversight of detention facilities and grant programs.
The Emergency Responder Protection Act (HR 5603) prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from conducting immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of protected emergency response locations - such as hospitals, shelters, disaster relief sites, or evacuation routes - except in clear cases of immediate danger to life or national security. It requires officers to consult supervisors in real-time if circumstances are unclear, mandates detailed annual reports to Congress on any enforcement near these sites, and creates penalties for violations, including barring evidence from removal proceedings. The law specifically exempts rare, premeditated arrests of terrorism suspects or individuals posing extraordinary public safety threats, with prior written approval. This directly affects ICE and CBP officers, requiring them to adjust operations near active emergency scenes.
This bill establishes a "Secure the Southern Border Fund" to finance border wall construction and related security measures along the U.S.-Mexico border. It creates a 5% fee on remittance transfers to foreign countries and increases Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) fees, with portions of these fees directed to the fund. The bill requires annual reporting on illegal border crossings and sets a deadline of December 31, 2025, for completing border barriers. The fund will finance physical barriers, roads, technology, and equipment for U.S. Border Patrol agents, while also including provisions to increase overtime pay for Border Patrol agents.
Operation Lone Star Reimbursement Act This bill allows Texas to receive reimbursement for expenses incurred from 2021 through 2025 related to securing the southern U.S. border. Texas must submit these expenses to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of the Treasury. DHS must review the submission within 120 days and determine which expenses are eligible for reimbursement. Treasury must pay such reimbursable expenses within 60 days.
The Protecting Data at the Border Act requires U.S. border agents to obtain a warrant based on probable cause before accessing the digital contents of electronic devices belonging to U.S. persons at the border. It prohibits denying entry or delaying entry based on a refusal to provide access credentials, digital content, or online account information, and limits border agents to four hours to determine if a U.S. person will voluntarily provide access. The bill mandates written consent with clear notice of rights for voluntary data access, requires destruction of improperly accessed data, and includes emergency exceptions for immediate threats to life, national security, or public safety. It also requires the Department of Homeland Security to report annually on how often border agents access digital data and under what circumstances.
HR 6379, the Shadow Wolves Improvement Act, amends the Homeland Security Act to establish new requirements for ICE's Shadow Wolves Program, which partners with tribal nations like the Tohono O'odham Nation. The bill requires ICE to define the program's mission, set staffing needs for special agents, create a recruitment/retention strategy with specific goals and timelines, and provide current Tactical Officers with clear details about reclassifying as special agents (including pay and training impacts). It also mandates a plan for filling vacancies due to retirements and outlines criteria for expanding the program to new tribal lands. The bill specifies no new funding is authorized for these changes and requires ICE to submit an implementation report to Congress within one year.
The Homeland Security Improvement Act establishes a 30-member Border Oversight Commission with balanced regional representation from northern and southern border communities to review border enforcement policies and their impact on border residents. It creates an Ombudsman for Border and Immigration-Related Concerns within the Department of Homeland Security to independently receive and investigate complaints about border enforcement activities, including facility inspections and establishing a standardized complaint process. The bill mandates enhanced training for border enforcement personnel focusing on community relations, use of force policies, cultural awareness, and handling vulnerable populations. Additionally, it requires data collection on border enforcement stops and includes provisions to prohibit family separations for deterrence purposes.
S 391, the Access to Counsel Act of 2025, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide certain immigrants access to legal counsel during immigration inspections at ports of entry or during deferred inspection. It directly affects individuals including lawful permanent residents returning from travel, visa holders, refugees, asylees, and parolees. The bill mandates that immigration officers ensure a meaningful opportunity for counsel consultation within one hour of inspection starting, including phone access, and allows counsel to present evidence to officers. Special rules require lawful permanent residents to receive legal advice before signing a form abandoning their status, unless they voluntarily waive this right in writing. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment and does not override existing rights to counsel under other immigration laws.
The Checkpoint Modernization Act requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to prioritize renovating border checkpoints along the southern U.S. border to improve agent safety, enhance detection of smuggling and contraband, and reduce traffic congestion. It authorizes $150 million annually from 2025-2028 for these projects and mandates annual reports to Congress on costs and progress. The bill also rescinds unobligated funds from the EPA’s climate justice grants program to cover these border renovations. This directly affects Border Patrol agents, travelers at southern border checkpoints, and federal budget allocations for border security. The focus is on physical infrastructure upgrades and operational efficiency, not policy changes to border enforcement.
