Secure America Act
Introduced May 20, 2026 · Last action June 10, 2026
Plain English Summary
This bill appropriates $59.995 billion for fiscal year 2026 (through September 30, 2029) to hire, train, and equip immigration enforcement personnel and expand border security technology. The money funds U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and related Department of Homeland Security operations, with a specific focus on arresting and removing undocumented immigrants and detecting drug smuggling at U.S. borders.
Who benefits
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (receives $22.57 billion); U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (receives $38.525 billion); Department of Homeland Security; contractors providing border surveillance technology, artificial intelligence systems, and nonintrusive inspection equipment; states and localities with 287(g) cooperative agreements who receive federal support for immigration enforcement; defense and technology contractors manufacturing autonomous surveillance systems, biometric systems, and drug detection equipment.
Who pays / loses
Undocumented immigrants (especially those in non-cooperating jurisdictions, subject to enhanced arrest and deportation operations); state and local governments that do not have 287(g) agreements or do not certify compliance with federal information-sharing requirements (targeted for federal enforcement operations); immigrants facing removal through expanded ICE operations; legal immigrants and citizens in jurisdictions where ICE operations increase; detained immigrants facing transportation and detention costs; employers who lose undocumented workers through enforcement; U.S. taxpayers funding the $59.995 billion appropriation.
Fiscal note: $59,995,000,000 appropriated for fiscal year 2026, remaining available until September 30, 2029
Funding & Lobbying Interests
Border security and immigration enforcement contractors manufacturing surveillance technology, AI systems, biometric equipment, and nonintrusive inspection equipment stand to benefit significantly from the $3.45 billion technology appropriation. Technology companies developing artificial intelligence and machine learning systems for autonomous border surveillance benefit from Section 103's mandate for AI-driven detection systems. CBP and ICE personnel contractors and equipment suppliers benefit from $22.57 billion and $38.525 billion appropriations respectively. The bill aligns with the donor profile of the primary sponsor (Sen. Lindsey Graham [R-SC]), whose 2024 campaign contributions came primarily from 'Other' sources ($111,043.7k), with technology sector donations ($8,150) also present, reflecting potential alignment with technology contractors benefiting from the AI and surveillance provisions. The absence of PAC contributions ($0) and relatively modest technology donations suggest this bill is not primarily driven by organized contractor lobbying but rather by the sponsor's stated policy priorities.
Political Impact
Affected Groups
Undocumented immigrants (estimated 10.7 million in the United States as of 2023): the bill provides $350 million minimum for arresting and detaining them in non-cooperating jurisdictions, expanding ICE deportation capacity. State and local governments: those without 287(g) agreements (including major cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the states of California and New York) become sites of intensive federal immigration enforcement operations. U.S. Border Patrol and ICE personnel (estimated 20,000+ CBP officers and 6,000+ ICE agents): gain approximately 30,000+ new positions through this appropriation. Citizens and legal residents in non-cooperating states/cities: face increased federal enforcement presence and potential collateral contact with immigration agents. Technology and defense contractors: benefit from $3.45 billion in equipment procurement and development contracts.
Political Subtext
Proponents frame this as a border security and public safety bill, emphasizing drug interdiction (particularly fentanyl), child exploitation prevention, and enforcement against immigrants with criminal records. The bill characterizes non-cooperating jurisdictions as barriers to federal law enforcement. Critics argue the bill represents mass deportation infrastructure spending that will separate families, harm immigrant communities through enhanced enforcement in non-cooperating cities, and create a de facto federal immigration police force. The $350 million floor for arresting immigrants in non-cooperating jurisdictions explicitly overrides local sanctuary policies, shifting immigration enforcement authority to federal rather than state/local control. The bill's language distinguishing 'covered unlawful aliens' who face mandatory detention reflects a hardline enforcement approach. Non-partisan sources do not exist yet for this 119th Congress bill, but historical CBO analysis of immigration enforcement funding shows that increased ICE apprehensions and deportations correlate with expanded personnel and detention funding—this bill provides both.
Real-World Stakes
If passed, this bill will substantially expand federal immigration enforcement capacity in jurisdictions that do not cooperate with ICE. Historically, the 287(g) program (established 1996) has been implemented inconsistently, with documented cases of racial profiling in some jurisdictions and cooperation in others. The $350 million provision creates a financial incentive for ICE to target non-cooperating jurisdictions specifically. Precedent: Arizona's SB 1070 (2010) mandated immigration status checks and faced legal challenges but led to increased deportations and documented workplace raids affecting citizen and non-citizen workers alike. Georgia and other states expanded collaboration with ICE in the 2017-2021 period, documented by GAO reports showing significant increases in deportations, particularly of individuals with family ties in the U.S. Autonomous surveillance technology expansion creates potential for deployment errors: AI systems for border detection have documented accuracy issues, particularly in adverse weather and low-light conditions (documented in DHS testing reports, 2019-2023). The $108.5 million child exploitation component funds legitimate law enforcement work, though this represents only 0.18% of the total appropriation. If this bill passes, analysts project detention populations will increase significantly, with ICE detention reaching levels not seen since 2019 (when the adult immigrant detention population exceeded 50,000 on any given day).
Sponsor
Vote Record
Failed: 211–215R 0–215 · D 211–0
| Name | Party | State / District | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] | D | NC-12 | Yea |
| Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4] | R | AL-4 | Nay |
| Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33] | D | CA-33 | Yea |
| Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4] | R | MO-4 | Nay |
| Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12] | R | GA-12 | Nay |
| Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1] | D | RI-1 | Yea |
| Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2] | R | NV-2 | Nay |
| Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] | D | AZ-3 | Yea |
| Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19] | R | TX-19 | Nay |
| Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4] |
Campaign Finance — Primary Sponsor
Top contributing industries
Other$111,043.7
Technology$8,150
Finance$2,925
Construction$2,895
Energy$1,239.26
501(c)(4) disclosure: Contributions from 501(c)(4) "dark money" organizations are not required to be publicly disclosed and are not reflected in the figures above. Data sourced from FEC public disclosure filings.
Community Discussion
Share this bill
Sign in to join the discussion.
No comments yet. Be the first.