Opportunity Information: Apply for O NIJ 2026 172800
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled "NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Justice System Responses to Illegal Immigration" (Funding Opportunity Number: O NIJ 2026 172800; CFDA: 16.560). The funding is intended to support rigorous, applied research and evaluation projects that examine how the adult criminal justice system responds to illegal immigration and to crimes committed by individuals who are in the United States illegally. The focus is specifically on state, local, and tribal justice systems, with an emphasis on producing practical findings that can help agencies strengthen strategies, improve operations, and make decisions based on evidence and measurable outcomes.
The core purpose of the NOFO is to identify innovative strategies already being used in communities, evaluate whether those strategies work, and generate usable, data-driven guidance that other jurisdictions can adapt. NIJ is interested in studies that look at real-world challenges across the justice system continuum, including law enforcement, courts, jails, prisons, and community supervision. Proposals can be designed around a single jurisdiction, multiple jurisdictions, or multi-state comparisons, and they may also examine models of cooperation among federal, state, local, and tribal partners as well as other stakeholders involved in responding to immigration-related enforcement and public safety concerns.
The opportunity highlights a broad set of research topics that applicants may address. Examples include how agencies locate and apprehend individuals, how courts manage cases that involve immigration-related issues, and how jurisdictions handle transportation and detention logistics. NIJ also points to the need for research on investigations into fraud and other crimes that may be associated with illegal immigration, including work that develops more accurate profiles or estimates of criminal activity rates. Additionally, the NOFO encourages research related to countering gang activity and other organized criminal activity, with specific mention of drug trafficking and human trafficking operations. A key theme throughout is that many justice agencies develop creative local solutions under resource and legal constraints, and NIJ wants those approaches documented and tested so lessons can transfer to other places.
A wide range of entities are eligible to apply, reflecting NIJ's interest in both practitioner-driven and research-led projects. Eligible applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; and other units of local government such as towns, boroughs, parishes, and villages. Higher education institutions are eligible as well, including public/state-controlled and private institutions. Tribal eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations. Both nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status) and for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses) may apply, which opens the door to academic centers, research organizations, policy institutes, and private research firms that can conduct evaluations and applied justice research.
In terms of scale and timing, the NOFO anticipates making about five awards, with an award ceiling of up to $3,000,000 per award. The original application closing date listed is November 16, 2026, and the opportunity was created on October 9, 2026. Overall, the grant is positioned as a research-and-evaluation investment in the operational realities of justice system responses to illegal immigration, aiming to produce findings that are not just academic, but directly useful for strengthening interagency strategies, improving effectiveness, and informing policy and practice at the state, local, and tribal levels.Apply for O NIJ 2026 172800
- The National Institute of Justice in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Justice System Responses to Illegal Immigration" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.560.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-10-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-16. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Justice System Responses to Illegal Immigration."
Which agency is offering this funding?
The funding opportunity is offered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this NOFO?
The Funding Opportunity Number is O NIJ 2026 172800.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 16.560.
What is the main purpose of the grant?
The grant is intended to support rigorous, applied research and evaluation projects that examine how the adult criminal justice system responds to illegal immigration and to crimes committed by individuals who are in the United States illegally, with a focus on producing practical, usable findings for justice agencies.
Is this funding for research, evaluation, or both?
It is for both research and evaluation. The NOFO emphasizes rigorous, applied research and evaluation that can generate evidence-based, measurable outcomes and guidance that other jurisdictions can adapt.
Which parts of the justice system are within scope for proposed studies?
The NOFO highlights research across the justice system continuum, including law enforcement, courts, jails, prisons, and community supervision.
Does NIJ focus on federal agencies or non-federal agencies for this topic?
The focus is specifically on state, local, and tribal justice systems. The NOFO also notes that applicants may examine models of cooperation among federal, state, local, and tribal partners and other stakeholders.
What kinds of projects is NIJ looking for?
NIJ is looking for innovative strategies already being used in communities, evaluations of whether those strategies work, and data-driven guidance that can transfer to other jurisdictions. The intent is to document real-world approaches developed under resource and legal constraints and test what is effective.
Do projects need to be based in one location, or can they compare multiple jurisdictions?
Proposals may be designed around a single jurisdiction, multiple jurisdictions, or multi-state comparisons.
Can an application study partnerships and coordination across agencies?
Yes. The NOFO states that projects may examine models of cooperation among federal, state, local, and tribal partners, as well as other stakeholders involved in immigration-related enforcement and public safety concerns.
What are examples of research topics mentioned in the NOFO?
Examples include how agencies locate and apprehend individuals; how courts manage cases involving immigration-related issues; and how jurisdictions handle transportation and detention logistics.
Does the NOFO mention research on fraud or related crimes?
Yes. The NOFO points to research on investigations into fraud and other crimes that may be associated with illegal immigration, including work that develops more accurate profiles or estimates of criminal activity rates.
Does the NOFO encourage work related to gangs or organized criminal activity?
Yes. The NOFO encourages research related to countering gang activity and other organized criminal activity, specifically mentioning drug trafficking and human trafficking operations.
What outcomes or deliverables does NIJ appear to want from funded projects?
The opportunity emphasizes practical findings and usable, data-driven guidance that agencies can use to strengthen strategies, improve operations, and make evidence-based decisions with measurable outcomes.
Who is eligible to apply for this NIJ grant?
Eligible applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; and other units of local government (such as towns, boroughs, parishes, and villages). Also eligible are institutions of higher education (public/state-controlled and private), federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), and for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses).
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled institutions and private institutions of higher education are eligible.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible applicants.
Can nonprofit organizations apply even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Can for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations, including small businesses and for-profits that are not small businesses.
How many awards does NIJ expect to make under this opportunity?
The NOFO anticipates making about five awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is up to $3,000,000 per award.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on October 9, 2026.
What is the application closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original application closing date listed is November 16, 2026.
What is the overall emphasis or positioning of this grant?
This opportunity is positioned as a research-and-evaluation investment in the operational realities of justice system responses to illegal immigration, aiming to produce findings that are not only academic but directly useful for strengthening interagency strategies, improving effectiveness, and informing policy and practice at the state, local, and tribal levels.
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