UASI Act

This legislation, known as the "Unifying American Security Interests Act," aims to strengthen homeland security by modifying the eligibility requirements for Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grants. It mandates that applicants for these critical funds, which enhance preparedness against terrorism and other threats, dedicate a significant portion of their awards to specific national priorities. Under the bill, UASI grant recipients must allocate not less than 30 percent of their total award across designated National Priority Areas. Within this allocation, a minimum of 3 percent must be dedicated to enhancing election security , and at least 10 percent must support border crisis response and enforcement , explicitly requiring activities such as participation in the 287(g) program, cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers, and developing information-sharing platforms with ICE. Applicants must also submit a dedicated investment justification for border-related projects, ensuring coordination with ICE field offices. Failure to meet these minimum allocation requirements can result in severe penalties, including denial of future grants, holds on awarded funds, or even debarment. These new conditions will apply to all UASI grants awarded for fiscal year 2027 and beyond.