Public Description:
The bill would establish a DHS grant program ($150 million annual appropriation authorized), beginning with fiscal 2008) to aid local law enforcement agencies serving communities within 25 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border in: (1) conducting law enforcement operations in order to enforce criminal laws, prevent and punish criminal activity, and protect the lives, property, and security of the people within the jurisdiction; (2) transferring detained illegal aliens to appropriate Federal law enforcement officials; and (3) enforcing state and Federal laws relating to controlled substance trafficking and enforce other state and Federal criminal laws; and would allow grant funds to be used for: (1) hiring, equipping, training, and otherwise controlling the operations and deployment of, law enforcement officials engaged in the aforementioned activities; (2) detaining, housing, and transporting illegal aliens until they are transferred to appropriate Federal law enforcement officials; and (3) construction, maintenance, and operation of detention facilities to detain illegal aliens, but would prohibit more than 20 percent of funds from being used for the construction or renovation of detention or similar facilities.
To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to hire, train, and equip local law enforcement officials on and near the southern border of the United States, as well as to reimburse the costs of paying overtime to such officials, and for other purposes.
