I
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. R. 992
To prohibit the Department of Justice from bringing a civil action against
a State under section 9 or 10 of the Act of March 3, 1899, for certain
border security measures, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY5, 2025
Mr. C
LOUD(for himself, Mr. BABIN, Mr. BIGGSof Arizona, Mr. CRENSHAW,
Mr. D
ONALDS, Mr. DOWNING, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. EVANSof Colorado,
Ms. F
OXX, Mr. GOSAR, Ms. MACE, Mr. NEHLS, Mr. ROUZER, Ms. VAN
D
UYNE, Mr. SCHMIDT, and Mr. WEBSTERof Florida) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned
A BILL
To prohibit the Department of Justice from bringing a civil
action against a State under section 9 or 10 of the
Act of March 3, 1899, for certain border security meas-
ures, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Preventing Aliens 4
Through Rivers or Land Act’’ or the ‘‘PATROL Act’’. 5
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•HR 992 IH
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON CIVIL ACTION FOR CERTAIN BOR-1
DER SECURITY MEASURES. 2
(a) I
NGENERAL.—The Attorney General may not 3
bring or maintain a civil action (including an action that 4
is pending on the date of enactment of this Act) under 5
section 9 or 10 of the Act of March 3, 1899 (33 U.S.C. 6
401; 403), against a State for any measure undertaken 7
by the State to build, construct, erect, or otherwise install 8
a barrier along the international border of the State for 9
the purpose of— 10
(1) preventing aliens from entering the State in 11
violation of the immigration laws; or 12
(2) protecting the territory of the State. 13
(b) D
EFINITIONS.—In this section: 14
(1) A
LIEN.—The term ‘‘alien’’ has the meaning 15
given such term in section 101 of the Immigration 16
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101). 17
(2) B
ARRIER.—The term ‘‘barrier’’ means any 18
physical structure intended to secure the border, in-19
cluding a wall, fence, or floating buoy. 20
(3) I
MMIGRATION LAWS.—The term ‘‘immigra-21
tion laws’’ has the meaning given such term in sec-22
tion 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 23
U.S.C. 1101). 24
Æ
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