The Secure America Act Is Now Law: What the Immigration Enforcement Funding Package Contains

In June, the immigration enforcement funding bill we covered during Senate debate completed its path into law. The Secure America Act (S. 2) passed the House by a vote of 214–212 and was signed by the President on June 10, 2026. It is now Public Law 119-98.

What the law funds

The act is a spending measure passed through the budget reconciliation process. Under the statute's text, it provides a total of approximately $69.5 billion — available through September 30, 2029 — concentrated in two agencies: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE, about $38.5 billion across the act) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP, about $26 billion), plus roughly $5 billion to the Department of Homeland Security more broadly.

Of that total, roughly $46.6 billion is expressly directed to immigration enforcement activities — including about $31 billion to ICE for enforcement and about $13 billion to CBP. The remainder funds Border Patrol personnel, border security technology and screening, and related agency functions.

What a funding law is — and is not

It is worth being precise about the law's nature. The Secure America Act appropriates money; it does not, by itself, rewrite the substantive immigration statutes that govern who may be detained, who is removable, or what relief exists. Eligibility rules, court procedures, and forms of protection remain governed by existing law.

That said, funding shapes practice. More enforcement resources generally mean more arrests, more detention capacity in use, and more cases moving through an already congested system. For South Florida — home to some of the busiest immigration courts and detention facilities in the country — the practical effects will be felt at the local level over time.

What this means for people with pending matters

Nothing in the act changes the importance of the fundamentals: knowing your court dates, keeping your address current with the immigration court and USCIS, carrying proof of any lawful status or pending application, and understanding what relief may be available in your specific circumstances before an emergency arises.

For families concerned about detention specifically, our Detention Defense section explains how representation works for detained individuals and how to locate someone in custody.

If you have questions about your situation

How an enforcement-focused funding environment interacts with an individual case is fact-specific. A case-specific consultation with an immigration attorney is the most reliable way to understand your options and prepare sensibly rather than react in a moment of crisis.

This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. It summarizes a recent legal development; how the law applies depends on the specific facts of each case. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your situation. This website is attorney advertising.