Contact Congress about H.R. 4213: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
This bill would fund Homeland Security for 2026 and set rules for how DHS uses that money. It would shape border enforcement, asylum screening, detention, disaster aid, airport security, cybersecurity, and Coast Guard work.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 is a House bill waiting for floor action. The latest recorded action: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 139.
Latest action on H.R. 4213: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 139.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects people dealing with DHS in real life: migrants, asylum seekers, people in ICE custody, travelers, disaster-hit communities, local governments, and DHS workers. It also affects states, cities, tribes, nonprofits, ports, transit systems, fire departments, schools, contractors, and technology vendors that receive DHS money or must follow DHS rules.
Why this matters: This bill matters because DHS touches many parts of daily life, from airport lines to disaster aid to immigration enforcement. It would decide how much money DHS has in 2026 and set rules for how that money can be used. The bill could change how many people are detained, how asylum claims are screened, how fast disaster money moves, and how DHS handles cyber threats. Some effects are clear from the text, while others would depend on how DHS carries out the rules.
Key provisions in H.R. 4213
- The bill gives U.S. Customs and Border Protection $18.1 billion to run its operations. It also gives CBP $898.1 million for buying, building, and improving systems, including border technology, trade and travel infrastructure, shared operations, mission support, and radiation detection.
- The bill gives ICE $11.0 billion for operations and support. That includes $6.4 billion for enforcement, detention, and removal, plus rules to keep detention beds full and put everyone on the non-detained docket in Alternatives to Detention with required GPS monitoring.
- DHS could not use this money to move many migrants into the U.S. interior for reasons not tied to enforcement. This applies to people unlawfully present, paroled into the country, or found inadmissible, but not to unaccompanied children.
- The bill makes asylum screening harder. It raises the credible-fear test to a “more likely than not” standard and generally blocks positive findings or asylum grants for people who passed through another country without first seeking protection there, with specific exceptions such as some trafficking victims or travel only through non-treaty countries.
- ICE funds could not pay for or help provide abortions except in cases of life danger, rape, or incest. ICE also could not use funds for hormone therapy or surgery for gender-affirming care for people in ICE custody.
How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 4213
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
Questions people ask about H.R. 4213
- What is H.R. 4213?
- This bill would fund Homeland Security for 2026 and set rules for how DHS uses that money. It would shape border enforcement, asylum screening, detention, disaster aid, airport security, cybersecurity, and Coast Guard work.
- How do I support or oppose H.R. 4213?
- Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.
- Who should I contact about H.R. 4213?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain H.R. 4213 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
