Immigration Enforcement Funding Increases: What Government Contractors Should Know 

On June 10, 2026, President Trump signed the Secure America Act (S. 2) into law following its passage by both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The legislation provides approximately $70 billion in funding for immigration enforcement activities through September 30, 2029. 

While the law does not change existing immigration eligibility requirements, visa categories, or employment authorization rules, it significantly increases funding for federal immigration enforcement agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). 

For employers—particularly federal government contractors—the legislation serves as a reminder that immigration compliance remains an important business risk area. 

What Does the New Law Do? 

The Secure America Act allocates funding for: 

• Additional ICE and CBP personnel 

• Immigration enforcement technology and equipment 

• Detention and removal operations 

• Expanded partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies 

• Enhanced compliance and enforcement activities 

Because the funding remains available through fiscal year 2029, employers should anticipate a sustained increase in immigration enforcement efforts rather than a short-term initiative. 

Potential Impact on Government Contractors 

Many small and mid-sized government contractors already operate in a highly regulated environment. While the Secure America Act does not create new employment eligibility requirements, increased enforcement resources could result in: 

• More I-9 audits 

• Increased worksite inspections 

• Additional requests for employment records 

• Greater scrutiny of federal contractor compliance practices 

• Increased enforcement actions against employers with deficient hiring records 

Organizations that employ foreign nationals under employer-sponsored visa programs should also ensure that visa-related documentation, job descriptions, payroll records, and work authorization records are accurate and up to date. 

Why Proper I-9 and E-Verify Compliance Matters 

Federal contractors subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) E-Verify clause are already required to verify employment eligibility through the E-Verify system for covered employees.

As part of C2 Essentials' onboarding process, newly hired employees complete their Form I-9 through the employee portal, and C2 administers E-Verify services for clients that are subject to federal E-Verify requirements. These processes help establish consistent employment eligibility verification procedures and support compliance with federal regulations. 

Looking Ahead 

The Secure America Act does not automatically change immigration laws or work authorization requirements. However, the substantial increase in enforcement funding signals that immigration compliance will remain a federal priority for the foreseeable future.

Government contractors that maintain strong hiring, onboarding, and recordkeeping practices will be better positioned to respond to audits, inspections, and compliance reviews should enforcement activity increase.