HB245, titled the Grant Integrity and Border Security Act, would require applicants for any federal grant to certify that they have not violated, are not violating, and will not violate section 274(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act during the grant term. Section 274(a) generally prohibits bringing in, transporting, or harboring certain unauthorized aliens. The bill applies this certification requirement broadly across federal agencies and federal grant programs.
The bill also directs agencies to withhold grant funds from recipients found to be in violation, based on information from the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Management and Budget Director, convictions or admissions by employees or former employees of the grantee, or other credible information. In addition, the Attorney General would be required to provide information to the OMB Director within 90 days after a conviction, admission, or completion of an investigation under section 274(a), or when there is a reasonable basis to believe a violation occurred. The bill defines key terms such as agency, Director, and federal grant by reference to existing federal law.
Impact
HB245 would add a new compliance condition to federal grant applications and could make grant eligibility contingent on immigration-law compliance by applicants and, in some cases, their personnel. It would also create a mechanism for agencies to suspend or withhold grant funds from recipients deemed noncompliant, potentially affecting nonprofits, local governments, educational institutions, contractors, and other entities that receive federal grants. The bill would not directly amend section 274(a) itself, but it would expand the consequences of alleged or proven violations by tying them to federal funding decisions and interagency information sharing.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge broad sentiment. Based on the bill text and title, the measure appears to reflect a strong enforcement-oriented, border-security-focused approach to immigration compliance in federal spending. The introduction by multiple Republican sponsors suggests support from lawmakers prioritizing immigration enforcement and grant accountability.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely to be whether it is appropriate to condition federal grants on certification regarding immigration-related conduct, especially when the standard can be triggered by “any other credible information” and may reach conduct by employees or former employees of a grantee. Supporters would likely argue the bill protects federal funds from being used by entities involved in smuggling or harboring violations and improves accountability. Opponents may argue the bill is overbroad, could create uncertainty for grant recipients, and may impose penalties based on indirect or disputed allegations rather than final adjudications.