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Grant Application - Department of Justice FY26 Bridging Immigration-Related Deficits Experienced Nationwide (“BIDEN”) Program
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dorothy Thomas, Sheriff’s Office, Public Safety Finance Administrator, 704-283-3578
ACTION REQUESTED:
Authorize the County Manager to submit the associated grant application for the DOJ FY26 BIDEN Program and to make all necessary assurances, certifications, and documentation required for submission in Grants.gov and JustGrants, as substantially consistent with this agenda item.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
None.
BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Department of Justice has released the FY 2026 Bridging Immigration-Related Deficits Experienced Nationwide (“BIDEN”) Program, a federal funding opportunity designed to support state and local governments in addressing criminal justice impacts associated with criminal illegal alien activity, drug trafficking networks, human trafficking operations, and transnational criminal organizations. The BIDEN Program, authorized under the BIDEN Reimbursement Fund (34 U.S.C. § 61101), provides funding across three categories: Hiring of sworn and non-sworn personnel, Technology and equipment, Construction or renovation of temporary detention facilities.
Eligible applicants must maintain or commit to entering a 287(g) partnership and must participate in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) operations or major DOJ enforcement efforts. The Union County Sheriff’s Office meets these eligibility requirements.
The Sheriff’s Office intends to apply under Category 2: Technology and Equipment to strengthen investigative, detention, transportation, and enforcement capabilities related to criminal illegal alien activity and trafficking operations.
Funding may support multi-year implementation, subscriptions, training, and maintenance of advanced technology and equipment that directly enhances operational capacity.
This grant opportunity is 100% federally funded and does not require a County match. Applications must be submitted first through Grants.gov (SF-424) and then through JustGrants, with Round 1 deadlines of July 15, 2026 (Grants.gov) and July 17, 2026 (JustGrants). Additional rounds will follow until funds are exhausted.
If awarded, the Sheriff’s Office will return to the Board with any required budget amendments or acceptance actions.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The BIDEN Program provides 100% federal funding. Any award amount will be determined by DOJ following review of the application.