HR 2128 — Reimbursing Border Communities Act of 2025

Summary

This bill authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to local governments along the US-Mexico border to reimburse them for border security expenses. Eligible recipients must be units of local government located within 200 miles of the Mexico border and cannot be sanctuary jurisdictions. Grants are limited to a maximum of $500,000 per fiscal year and can only be used for security measures and local law enforcement wages, not for nonprofits, legal services, or services to immigrants. The Secretary must submit annual reports to Congress through 2035 on how the grants are used and recommendations for improvements. The bill authorizes $25 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2036 for the program.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Sponsor (1)

Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13] (R-TX)

11 cosponsors

Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36] (R-TX)
Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2] (R-TX)
Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15] (R-TX)
Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6] (R-TX)
Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26] (R-TX)
Rep. Goldman, Craig A. [R-TX-12] (R-TX)
Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5] (R-TX)
Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9] (R-AZ)
Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8] (R-TX)
Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11] (R-TX)
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17] (R-TX)

Money behind the sponsor

Top reported contributors to Ronny Jackson’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.

DEASON CAPITAL SERVICES $13,200
ALBERS AEROSPACE $10,900
HILLWOOD $9,100
GTN TECHNICAL STAFFING $7,567
1A AUTO $6,850

Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Ronny Jackson → · Outside spending →

Actions (3)

Mar 14, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement. · house
Mar 14, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security. · house
Mar 14, 2025 Introduced in House

Similar bills (6)

Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.

Text versions (1)

Introduced in House · Mar 14, 2025

Only one text version is on file, so there’s no earlier version to compare against yet.

Full text

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 14, 2025

Mr. Jackson of Texas (for himself, Ms. De La Cruz, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Luttrell, Mr. Ellzey, Mr. Pfluger, Mr. Gooden, Mr. Babin, Mr. Gill of Texas, Mr. Sessions, and Mr. Gosar) 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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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 2025”.

SEC. 2. BORDER COMMUNITY REIMBURSEMENT GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) In General.—Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 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, including additional wages for local law enforcement 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 subsection (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 resources to an alien.

(e) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter through 2035, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that includes—

(1) information relating to the—

(A) use of each grant made under subsection (a); and

(B) implementation of this section; and

(2) any recommendations of the Secretary for improving the implementation of this section, including 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 Immigration 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

(C) has any law or policy in effect that violates 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 fiscal years 2026 through 2036 to carry out this section. <all>

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