DOJ Ties $1 Billion in Police Grants to Immigration Cooperation
Updated
Updated · NPR · Jun 18
DOJ Ties $1 Billion in Police Grants to Immigration Cooperation
3 articles · Updated · NPR · Jun 18
Summary
$1 billion in Justice Department public-safety grants will go only to cities and police agencies that cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, adding a new condition to long-running local funding streams.
The package includes $700 million in COPS grants for hiring, school safety and officer mental health, plus a $300 million Model Cities Initiative for a small group of mid-sized cities.
DOJ says jurisdictions showing “true partnership” will have the strongest applications, while critics say the policy pressures local police to take on a federal immigration role to keep money they have long relied on.
Criminal-justice experts and many police chiefs argue the linkage could erode community trust and note studies show immigrants are less likely to commit crimes; recent data also shows more than 70% of immigrant detainees lack criminal convictions.
The move revives a first-term Trump approach that was challenged in court and later revoked under Biden, while DHS is also offering incentives for local agencies to assist immigration enforcement.
Can a billion dollars in police grants succeed if it erodes community trust in the process?
With private firms using AI to track immigrants, who is guarding against errors and abuse?
2026 DOJ Policy Change: How Tying Grants to Immigration Enforcement Threatens Public Safety Initiatives
Overview
In 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a major policy shift that changed how federal grant funding is distributed. The new policy requires that all taxpayer-funded grants support the mission to 'Make America Safe Again,' focusing on law enforcement and public safety. Discretionary funds not directly aligned with this mission are now reviewed and may be reallocated. The initial phase ended grants that did not explicitly support law enforcement, and the DOJ now ensures all programs follow congressional guidelines. This shift means only organizations that align with these priorities will continue to receive funding.