Funding must be used for locating and apprehending individuals who have committed a crime under federal, state, or local law and are unlawfully present in the United States. Eligible uses include investigating and prosecuting crimes committed by aliens within the United States, as well as drug and human trafficking crimes.

Additional eligible uses include court operations related to the prosecution of these crimes, the temporary criminal detention of aliens, and transporting aliens within the United States to locations related to their apprehension, detention, and prosecution. Vehicle maintenance, logistics, transportation, and other support provided by a state agency to enhance the ability to locate and apprehend aliens who have committed crimes and are unlawfully present are also covered.

The authorization is codified at 34 U.S.C. § 61101. Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. addressed the purpose of the initiative in an official statement. "To the departments whose states have failed to provide you with the support you need to conduct law enforcement or immigration enforcement and to protect your communities from murders and trafficking: this program is for you," Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. said. "This funding opportunity is a way for local law enforcement to honor victims and counter the dangerous sanctuary policies that have decimated public safety in so many states," Woodward said.

"The Trump Administration and this Department of Justice want to ensure local law enforcement have the resources they need to ensure the deaths of innocent Americans never happen again," he said.

Why It Matters

The BIDEN Reimbursement Fund, under which the ANGEL Grant Program is authorized, has a total appropriation of $3 billion for FY 2026, as outlined in the DOJ's funding notice. In FY 2025, the Department of Justice awarded $3 billion in grants through the Bridging Immigration-Related Deficits Experienced Nationwide (BIDEN) Program, which is the same funding mechanism used for the ANGEL Grant Program.

Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs), which the ANGEL Program supports, were first established in the 1990s to coordinate federal, state, and local efforts against transnational criminal organizations. As of 2025, over 100 such task forces operate nationwide, focusing on combating drug trafficking, gang activity, and other transnational crimes. In 2025, the Justice Department issued a report showing that 72% of law enforcement agencies participating in these task forces reported increased capacity to combat drug trafficking and human smuggling after receiving federal grant funding.

Timeline

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which authorized the BIDEN Reimbursement Fund, was signed into law on December 23, 2023, and includes provisions to support law enforcement efforts targeting criminal noncitizens and transnational crime. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025.

On September 24, 2026, the Justice Department unveiled a $25 million grant opportunity as Attorney General Todd Blanche hosted violent crime survivors and grieving families for a summit focused on public safety and support for victims. On the same day, the Justice Department announced the "Assisting Neighborhoods and Governments with Enforcement of Laws" (ANGEL) Grant Program.

Also on September 24, 2026, awards from the program were designated to support participation in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) activities and other Department of Justice efforts to combat gangs, cartels, and violent crime. Eligible uses announced that day include court operations related to the prosecution of crimes committed by aliens and drug and human trafficking crimes.

Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. stated on September 24, 2026, "The Trump Administration and this Department of Justice want to ensure local law enforcement have the resources they need to ensure the deaths of innocent Americans never happen again." He also said on that date, "To the departments whose states have failed to provide you with the support you need to conduct law enforcement or immigration enforcement and to protect your communities from murders and trafficking: this program is for you."

What's New

In 2025, the Justice Department issued a report showing that 72% of law enforcement agencies participating in Homeland Security Task Forces reported increased capacity to combat drug trafficking and human smuggling after receiving federal grant funding.

The Department of Justice has historically provided grants to support law enforcement activities related to immigration enforcement, with the first major grant program launched in 1968 under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act.

The Justice Department unveiled a $25 million grant opportunity on September 24, 2026, as Attorney General Todd Blanche hosted violent crime survivors and grieving families for a summit focused on public safety and support for victims.

Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) have been active since the 1990s, with over 100 such task forces operating nationwide as of 2025, focusing on combating drug trafficking, gang activity, and other transnational crimes. The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs, which administers the ANGEL Grant Program, has distributed over $15 billion in grants to state and local jurisdictions since 2010, focused on public safety and criminal justice reform.

How Sources Differ

The Justice Department press release 26-2001 states that the Justice Department announced the Assisting Neighborhoods and Governments with Enforcement of Laws (ANGEL) Grant Program.

The Justice Department press release 26-2001 states that the program is authorized under the BIDEN Reimbursement Fund established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II.

On BIDEN Reimbursement Fund legislation, ojp.gov states that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21) was signed into law in 2023, establishing the BIDEN Reimbursement Fund to address immigration-related enforcement gaps.