Security First Act

Bill Number

H.R. 506

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-16: Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.

Last Updated

2026-07-09T13:27:22Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Security First Act" (H.R. 506) aims to strengthen U.S. border security, particularly along the Southwest border with Mexico, by addressing threats from drug cartels, criminal gangs, terrorism, and illegal crossings. It focuses on increasing funding for local law enforcement partnerships, evaluating terrorist designations for specific organizations, assessing technology needs, and reviewing hiring practices within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Key Provisions

• Findings (Section 2): Outlines congressional concerns, including high numbers of border encounters (over 8.72 million since FY2021), undetected crossings ("gotaways" at about 2 million), terrorist watchlist encounters (395), fentanyl seizures (9,254 pounds), opioid deaths (105,007 in 2023), and threats from Mexican cartels and gangs like Tren de Aragua, which are linked to violence, drug/human trafficking, and attacks on U.S. law enforcement.

• Operation Stonegarden Appropriations and Trust Fund (Section 3):
• Authorizes $110 million annually for fiscal years 2025–2028 for the Operation Stonegarden grant program, which supports state and local law enforcement in border security operations.
• Allocates at least $36.67 million annually for the same period to purchase technology and equipment, such as communications devices, sensors, and drones.
• Establishes an "Operation Stonegarden Trust Fund" in the U.S. Treasury, funded by transfers from seized unreported monetary instruments (e.g., cash, traveler's checks, or bearer securities) at the U.S.-Mexico border. Funds from the trust are dedicated solely to the grant program without needing additional congressional approval.

• Foreign Terrorist Organization Designations (Section 4):
• Requires the Secretary of State to submit a report within 60 days of enactment assessing whether specific Mexican drug cartels (Jalisco New Generation, Sinaloa, Juarez, Tijuana, Gulf, and Los Zetas) and the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua meet the criteria for designation as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) under the Immigration and Nationality Act. FTO status would allow stricter immigration, financial, and law enforcement measures against these groups.

• Southern Border Technology Needs Analysis and Updates (Section 5):
• Mandates DHS to deliver a comprehensive technology needs analysis within one year of enactment, evaluating gaps and requirements for border security tech to counter terrorism, drug/human trafficking, and facilitate legal trade.
• Covers advancements in areas like aircraft sensors, drones (including counter-drone tech), surveillance systems (e.g., cameras, radar, towers), non-intrusive inspection tools (e.g., muon tomography for detecting hidden items without X-rays), tunnel detection, and communications (e.g., radios, broadband, satellites).
• Includes assessments of how new tech could improve security, reduce gaps, enhance officer safety, support data sharing (e.g., biometrics, cloud storage), and aid search-and-rescue efforts.
• Requires biennial updates for four years, including plans to acquire or develop needed technologies, considering factors like privacy risks, staffing impacts, migration trends, and cooperation with Mexican authorities.
• Reports to be mostly unclassified, with classified portions if necessary.

• Report on Hiring Practices (Section 6):
• Directs DHS to submit a report within 120 days detailing recruitment practices from 2018 to 2024 and providing recommendations to boost the operational capacity of the DHS workforce.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces new authorizations for Operation Stonegarden funding, increasing annual appropriations beyond prior levels and creating a dedicated trust fund linked to border seizures, which bypasses traditional budgeting processes.
• Mandates the first formal assessment of specific cartels and Tren de Aragua for FTO status, potentially expanding anti-terrorism tools (e.g., asset freezes, travel bans) to drug and gang activities not previously classified this way.
• Establishes ongoing requirements for DHS technology analyses and hiring reports, which did not exist before, promoting proactive planning rather than reactive measures.
• No direct amendments to core laws like the Immigration and Nationality Act, but the FTO assessment could trigger designations under existing Section 219, leading to indirect changes in enforcement.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: DHS gains dedicated funding for grants, equipment, and tech development, potentially improving coordination with state/local partners and operational efficiency. The State Department faces new reporting duties that could influence foreign policy. Congressional committees receive regular updates, enhancing oversight.
• Citizens: Could reduce border-related threats like drug trafficking (e.g., fentanyl) and violence, improving public safety in border regions and nationwide by curbing opioid deaths and human smuggling. However, increased surveillance tech might raise privacy concerns for communities near the border.
• International Relations: FTO designations for Mexican cartels could strain U.S.-Mexico ties, as it implies state complicity or failure in combating these groups, potentially affecting trade, cooperation on migration, and diplomatic efforts. Targeting Tren de Aragua may impact relations with Venezuela.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Components: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Science and Technology Directorate will handle funding, reports, and tech implementation.
• State and Local Law Enforcement: Primary beneficiaries of Operation Stonegarden grants, aiding resource-strapped agencies in border operations.
• Congressional Committees: Homeland Security, Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, and related panels in both chambers, which receive reports and oversee implementation.
• Border Communities and Citizens: Residents along the Southwest border may see enhanced security but could face indirect effects from heightened enforcement or tech deployment.
• Mexican Government and Cartels/Gangs: Cartels like Sinaloa and Tren de Aragua could face severe sanctions if designated as FTOs, while Mexico might need to respond to U.S. pressure on transnational crime.
• U.S. Taxpayers and Treasury: Funding comes partly from general revenues and seizures, potentially offsetting costs without new taxes.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: FTO designations under existing law (8 U.S.C. 1189) would enable broader use of counterterrorism statutes against non-state actors involved in drugs/trafficking, but require evidence of threats to U.S. nationals or security. The trust fund's automatic transfers could raise questions about congressional control over spending (per the Appropriations Clause of the Constitution), though tied to enforcement proceeds.
• Constitutional: Emphasizes privacy in tech assessments, aligning with Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches, but expanded surveillance (e.g., drones, biometrics) might invite challenges if not balanced with safeguards.
• Political: As a bipartisan-introduced bill focused on border security, it reflects ongoing debates on immigration and crime, potentially advancing Republican priorities on enforcement while appealing across aisles via anti-drug measures. Success could influence future appropriations and foreign aid to Mexico, but failure to designate FTOs might fuel partisan criticism.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23]

Cosponsors (15)

Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-16: Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
• 2025-01-16: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
• 2025-01-16: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-01-16: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-01-16: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-16: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Security First Act — issued 2025-01-16 — PDF (15 pages)