DOJ FY 2026 Bridging Immigration-Related Deficits Experienced Nationwide (“BIDEN”) Program Round 2

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) FY 2026 Bridging Immigration-Related Deficits Experienced Nationwide (BIDEN) Program. This program, authorized under the BIDEN Reimbursement Fund established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II (codified at 34 U.S.C. § 61101), provides funding for grants to eligible States, State agencies, and units of local government and tribal governments, pursuant to their existing statutory authorities to support the seven statutory purposes outlined in 34 U.S.C. § 61101: 1. Locating and apprehending aliens who have committed a crime under federal, state, or local law, in addition to being unlawfully present in the United States (hereafter referred to as “criminal illegal aliens”). 2. Collection and analysis of law enforcement investigative information within the United States to counter gang or other criminal activity. 3. Investigating and prosecuting (a) crimes committed by aliens within the United States; and (b) drug and human trafficking crimes committed within the United States. 4. Court operations related to the prosecution of (a) crimes committed by aliens; and (b) drug and human trafficking crimes. 5. Temporary criminal detention of aliens. 6. Transporting aliens described in paragraph (1) within the United States to locations related to the apprehension, detention, and prosecution of such aliens. 7. Vehicle maintenance, logistics, transportation, and other support provided to law enforcement agencies by a state agency to enhance the ability to locate and apprehend aliens who have committed crimes under federal, state, or local law, in addition to being unlawfully present in the United States. Awards from this program should be used to support significant participation in and support of Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) activities, and other DOJ efforts to combat gangs, cartels, and other violent crime. Awards under this NOFO may support expenditures made by State agencies or units of local government for completed, ongoing, or new activities that occurred on or after January 20, 2021. This NOFO includes three funding categories: Category 1: Hiring • Sworn and Non-Sworn Law Enforcement Personnel—Funding can be used to hire or rehire full-time sworn career law enforcement officers/deputies and civilian/non-sworn personnel as outlined below: o Hire new full-time officers/deputies and full-time civilian/non-sworn personnel, including by filling existing officer/deputy vacancies that are no longer funded in your agency’s budget. o Rehire full-time officers/deputies and full-time civilian/non-sworn personnel who have been laid off by any jurisdiction as a result of state, local, or Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) budget reductions. The rehired officers/deputies must be rehired on or after the official award start date on the notice of award. o Rehire full-time officers/deputies and full-time civilian/non-sworn personnel who are (at the time of application) currently scheduled to be laid off by your jurisdiction on a specific future date as a result of state, local, or BIA budget reductions. Recipients will be required to continue funding the positions with local funding until the date(s) of the scheduled layoffs. Applicants may request funding for full-time officer/deputy salaries or a combination of officer and salaries of civilian/non-sworn. Funding will support salaries for up to three years of eligible positions to be expended within a five-year period of performance to accommodate time needed for recruitment and hiring. • Non-Law Enforcement Personnel—Funding can be used for the hiring, retention, and training of critical personnel across the full continuum of criminal justice operations for the purposes cited above. Examples of personnel could include but need not be limited to the following: forensic, investigative, analytical; prosecution and legal support; corrections, detention, and custodial; and transportation, security, and operations logistics. Funding may not be used for co-responders, interpreters, or translators. Category 2: Technology and Equipment—Funding can be used to purchase and support multi-year implementation, ongoing subscriptions, training, and maintenance of equipment and advanced technology to address critical resource gaps and enhance capacity to support criminal justice operations related to the purposes cited above. Note: If you apply for and receive funding for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), body-worn cameras, body armor, and/or NIBIN machines, you will be required to submit equipment-specific certifications and other documentation as a condition of your award. Category 3: Construction of Temporary Detention Facilities for Criminal Illegal Aliens—Funding can be used for the following: • Major Construction Projects—Funding would support large-scale projects, including building temporary detention facilities to house criminal illegal aliens awaiting prosecution, immigration proceedings, or transfer to federal custody. • Substantial Renovation/Expansion/Modernization—Funding would support the expansion or modernization/targeted improvement of existing facilities, including bolstering detention infrastructure through addition of housing units, or renovation of existing facilities to meet current detention standards and significantly enhance capacity and operational functionality for temporary detention of aliens who have committed a crime in addition to being unlawfully present in the United States.

This opportunity from Bureau of Justice Assistance is open to eligible applicants nationwide. Organizations working in Federal are especially encouraged to review the requirements.

Federal grant opportunities like this one are typically open to a range of applicant types. Common eligible organizations include:

• Nonprofits and 501(c)(3) organizations
• Small businesses and startups (especially for SBIR/STTR programs)
• State, local, and tribal governments
• Colleges, universities, and research institutions
• Individuals (for select programs in education, arts, and research)

Eligibility requirements vary by opportunity. Always review the official listing before investing time in an application.