H.R.245 - Grant Integrity and Border Security Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 245, the "Grant Integrity and Border Security Act," aims to ensure that recipients of federal grants comply with immigration laws. Specifically, it requires grant applicants to certify that they are not in violation of Section 274(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which addresses the bringing in and harboring of certain aliens. The bill also outlines procedures for withholding funds from grantees found to be in violation and mandates information sharing between the Attorney General, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and relevant agency heads.
Expected Effects
The bill's likely effect is increased scrutiny of federal grant applicants and recipients regarding their compliance with immigration laws. This could lead to a reduction in federal funding for organizations found to be in violation of immigration laws. It may also create additional administrative burdens for both grant applicants and federal agencies.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced Border Security: By denying funds to those violating immigration laws, the bill aims to strengthen border security.
- Increased Accountability: Grant applicants are held accountable for complying with immigration laws.
- Reduced Incentives for Illegal Immigration: The bill may reduce incentives for organizations to violate immigration laws to obtain federal grants.
- Improved Grant Integrity: The bill promotes integrity in the federal grant process by ensuring compliance with existing laws.
- Discourages harboring of illegal aliens: The bill aims to prevent the harboring of illegal aliens.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased Administrative Burden: Grant applicants face additional paperwork and compliance requirements.
- Potential for Delays: The certification process and potential investigations could delay grant approvals.
- Risk of False Accusations: The reliance on "credible information" could lead to false accusations and unfair denial of grants.
- Limited Scope: The bill only addresses one aspect of immigration law and may not significantly impact overall border security.
- Potential for discriminatory enforcement: The bill could be disproportionately enforced against certain groups or organizations.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutionality is primarily tied to Congress's power to regulate immigration and to set conditions on the distribution of federal funds under the Spending Clause (Article I, Section 8). The requirement for certification and the withholding of funds appear to be within the scope of congressional authority. However, due process concerns could arise if the determination of a violation is not conducted fairly or transparently. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific individual liberties or rights protected by the Bill of Rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).