10 Years of ICE Funding Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4277
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-02: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 368.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-13T15:07:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
S. 4277: 10 Years of ICE Funding Act
Purpose
This bill provides long-term funding to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws, combating cross-border crime, and securing borders. It aims to support ICE's operations, infrastructure, and equipment over a 10-year period.
Key Provisions
- Operations and Support Funding: Allocates $100,363,620,000 for day-to-day activities, including:
- Purchase or lease of up to 3,790 police-type vehicles (with 2,350 designated as replacements only).
- Support for overseas vetted units (specialized teams working internationally).
- Maintenance, minor construction, and improvements at owned or leased facilities.
- Procurement, Construction, and Improvements Funding: Allocates $5,000,000,000 for acquiring land and buildings, constructing and maintaining facilities, buying equipment, and related costs.
- Fund Availability: All funds remain usable until September 30, 2036 (about 10 years).
- Override of Restrictions: Funds can be obligated (committed for spending) despite limits in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026, or similar laws that typically restrict how long money is available.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Shifts from standard one-year appropriations (common in annual federal budgets) to multi-year funding available until 2036.
- Explicitly bypasses Section 501 of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026, and other laws that limit fund availability periods, allowing more flexible long-term spending.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enables ICE to expand enforcement operations, vehicle fleets, facilities, and international efforts without annual budget battles, potentially increasing deportations, border patrols, and investigations.
- Citizens and Taxpayers: Higher spending (over $105 billion total) could lead to increased immigration enforcement activities affecting communities with immigrants; funded by federal taxes.
- International Relations: Boosts overseas vetted units, which may enhance cooperation with foreign governments on migration and crime but could strain relations with countries critical of U.S. deportation policies.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Primary beneficiary, gaining stable, massive funding.
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Oversees ICE; impacts overall agency budgeting.
- Immigrants and Undocumented Individuals: Subject to heightened enforcement, detentions, and removals.
- Law Enforcement and Border Communities: Benefits from more resources for vehicles, facilities, and operations.
- U.S. Taxpayers: Bear the cost of the appropriations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Uses a "rule of construction" to override annual spending limits, which could set a precedent for multi-year appropriations but might face challenges if seen as circumventing congressional budget processes.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's "power of the purse" (Article I authority to appropriate funds), but long-term commitments may limit future Congresses' flexibility.
- Political: Introduced by Senators Schmitt, Hawley, and Moreno (Republicans), signals support for robust immigration enforcement; could spark debates on spending priorities amid fiscal concerns. Placed on Senate calendar but not yet passed.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO], Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-02: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 368.
- 2026-03-27: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- 2026-03-27: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- 10 Years of ICE Funding Act — issued 2026-04-02 — PDF (4 pages)