Bipartisan bill authorizes grants for border security

Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the Senate would authorize the Operation Stonegarden program, which provides state, local, and tribal law enforcement grants to assist in border security.

Under the bill, the program would be authorized through 2024 at $110 million annually. The bill also authorizes the program to increase coordination between local law enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The bill was introduced by Sens. Doug Jones (D-AL) and Martha McSally (R-AZ).

“Increased coordination between our local and federal law enforcement agencies makes our entire state safer,” McSally said. “Operation Stonegarden ensures Arizona law enforcement officers have the resources they need to work with their federal partners to address transnational crime. These grants will allow local law enforcement to provide critical support against drug and human trafficking in many of the most rural and remote areas of our state.”

“Operation Stonegarden supports cooperation between federal and state law enforcement agencies to improve border security around the country,” Jones said.

Operation Stonegarden is operated under the Homeland Security Grant Program and was created as a pilot program, but has never been codified into law.

Law enforcement can use grants to cover the cost of equipment, salaries, and overtime.