# Summary
The Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act is a comprehensive bill that combines immigration enforcement measures with emergency military funding. On immigration, the bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to expel most inadmissible migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border without hearings for one year, primarily sending them to Mexico or their home countries, though it includes protections against expelling people to countries where they face persecution or torture. The bill also allows the DHS Secretary to suspend entry of certain migrants if needed to maintain border control, and prohibits using federal funds to transfer migrants between detention facilities except for status adjudication purposes.
On the defense side, the legislation appropriates approximately $61 billion in emergency military funding through September 30, 2025, to support Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. This includes roughly $34 billion for defense operations supporting all three countries, with specific allocations including $4 billion for Israel's Iron Dome and David's Sling missile defense systems, $1.2 billion for Israel's Iron Beam system, and substantial funding for procurement of ammunition and missiles for Ukraine. The bill also funds improvements to the U.S. submarine industrial base and authorizes senior military officials to transfer up to $1 billion between defense accounts to respond to the Ukraine situation.
All authorities granted by the bill expire one year after enactment, and the legislation requires the Defense Department to provide Congress with detailed reports on how military aid to Ukraine is being accounted for and used.