The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 2617, Public Law No. 117-328, Dec. 29, 2022) includes various immigration-related provisions, such as $800 million in competitive grants under a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection “Shelter and Services” program for state and local governments and nonprofits dealing with an influx of migrants, to help cover the costs of supportive services to migrants, like shelter, transportation, food, first aid, and COVID-19 testing; an extension of the Special Immigrant Visa program, which primarily benefits Afghans, through 2024; millions of dollars in enhancements to border security technology and enforcement; $133 million to meet the refugee admissions goal of 125,000 for fiscal year 2023; and a new grant program to provide “humanitarian assistance that bolsters the operational capabilities of the U.S. Border Patrol.”
Related Links:
- Text of H.R. 2617
- Explanatory statements and bill summaries
- Department of Homeland Security explanatory statement
- “Federal Spending Bill to Include $800 Million in Grants for Cities Dealing With Migrant Crisis,” Politico, Dec. 20, 2022
- “Congress Reaches Deal to Save U.S. Visa Program for War Interpreters,” Stars and Stripes, Dec. 20, 2022