S. 3920 — UASI Act

This section states congressional findings that (1) the Urban Areas Security Initiative provides critical funding to high-risk urban areas to enhance preparedness against terrorism and other threats under the Homeland Security Grant Program; (2) effective border security and immigration enforcement are integral to national homeland security and require collaboration among Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial entities; (3) the FY2025 Homeland Security Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity established national priority areas including support for border crisis response through cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and (4) codifying these requirements ensures consistent application and prevents future circumvention through administrative or judicial actions.

This section establishes eligibility requirements for Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grants—awarded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to high-risk urban areas to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism—beginning in FY2027. As a condition of eligibility, applicants must demonstrate allocation of not less than 30% of the total award across five national priority areas: (1) enhancing cybersecurity; (2) enhancing protection of soft targets and crowded places; (3) supporting Homeland Security Task Forces and Fusion Centers; (4) enhancing election security; and (5) supporting border crisis response and enforcement. Of the total award, at least 3% must support election security activities and at least 10% must support border crisis response and enforcement activities (e.g., participation in the 287(g) program under the Immigration and Nationality Act to train and authorize local officers for immigration enforcement; cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers; related training, information-sharing, technology procurement, joint exercises, and staffing or overtime). Applicants must submit a dedicated investment justification for border-related projects aligned with border security goals and coordinated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement field offices; certify compliance with DHS terms, including prohibitions on benefiting illegal immigration; and face penalties for noncompliance, such as grant ineligibility, withholding up to 30% of the award, termination, or debarment.

This section states that nothing in this Act preempts State or local laws, except to the extent necessary to ensure compliance with the conditions for Federal grant funding under section 2008(h) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 609(h)), as added by section 3.