ICE FROST Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
- Committees
- Oversight and Government Reform Committee (primary)
- Last action
- May 13, 2026
Bottom line
The bill aims to boost compensation for immigration enforcement officers, especially in high-risk areas, by funding these increases through new surcharges on international money transfers to specific countries.
What it actually does
This bill provides supplemental payments to federal personnel performing immigration enforcement operations, including an additional hazardous duty payment for those in designated metropolitan areas. It establishes a new funding mechanism by imposing a surcharge on remittance transfers to certain foreign countries or countries with high visa overstay rates to cover the costs of these payments.
Proponents argue
Supporters would argue that this bill is crucial for retaining and recruiting federal law enforcement officers involved in immigration enforcement, acknowledging the elevated risks and demanding nature of their work. They might emphasize that the funding mechanism places the cost on senders to countries with high visa overstay rates or those deemed problematic, aligning costs with perceived sources of immigration issues.
Opponents contend
Opponents might contend that the bill unfairly targets specific immigrant communities and their families abroad through the remittance surcharge, potentially creating a regressive tax that disproportionately affects low-income individuals. They might also argue that the designation of 'hazardous duty areas' based on factors like 'significant concentration of aliens unlawfully present' could stigmatize communities and lead to discriminatory enforcement.
The bill is concise and its core provisions are easily understandable, allowing a reader to quickly grasp its main effects.
Section 2(a)
25% Supplemental Basic Pay for Covered Employees
This provision mandates a supplemental payment equal to 25% of the annual basic pay for all federal law enforcement officers performing immigration enforcement operations. This payment is to be made as a lump-sum annually, starting from the first pay period after the bill's enactment.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this payment is essential for recognizing the demanding and often dangerous nature of immigration enforcement work, improving morale, and aiding in the recruitment and retention of skilled personnel.
Critics contend
Critics might argue that a blanket 25% increase is excessive or that other forms of compensation or support might be more effective or equitable.
Tradeoffs
Balances the desire to reward and retain enforcement officers against the fiscal cost and potential for perceived inequity compared to other federal law enforcement roles.
Section 2(b)
15% Hazardous Duty Supplemental Pay in Designated Areas
This provision establishes an additional supplemental payment of 15% of annual basic pay for covered employees serving in specifically designated 'hazardous duty areas.' It lists several major metropolitan areas (e.g., Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York) and allows for additional designations based on factors like violent crime levels, presence of transnational criminal organizations, significant concentration of unlawfully present aliens, and documented incidents against officers.
Section 3
New Surcharge on Remittance Transfers to Specific Foreign Countries
This section amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a new 'specified surcharge' on remittance transfers. This surcharge is $199 for transfers to 'specified foreign countries' (Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, or Yemen) and $99 for transfers to countries with a visa overstay rate exceeding 2%. If both criteria apply, the sum ($298) is charged. This is in addition to the existing 1% transfer tax.