The First Responders Emergency Assistance Act establishes a federal grant program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement and first responder agencies cover costs related to responding to rapid increases in undocumented arrivals in their jurisdictions. Eligible agencies can use grant funding for equipment, personnel costs (including salaries and overtime), and other direct response activities, with at least 25 percent of funds directed to states bordering Canada or Mexico. The bill requires the administrator to establish oversight guidelines within 90 days, collect detailed financial information on how grants are spent, and submit annual reports to Congress for five years on how recipients use the funds and the outcomes of their operations. Importantly, the grants cannot be used to reimburse agencies for enforcing federal immigration laws themselves. While the bill does not specify a set funding amount, Congress must appropriate funds to implement the program.
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