H.R. 992

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 992 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session 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 February 5, 2025 Mr. Cloud (for himself, Mr. Babin, Mr. Biggs of Arizona, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Donalds, Mr. Downing, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Evans of Colorado, Ms. Foxx, Mr. Gosar, Ms. Mace, Mr. Nehls, Mr. Rouzer, Ms. Van Duyne, Mr. Schmidt, and Mr. Webster of Florida) introduced the following 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 committee 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 measures, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing Aliens Through Rivers or Land Act'' or the ``PATROL Act''. SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON CIVIL ACTION FOR CERTAIN BORDER SECURITY MEASURES. (a) In General.--The Attorney General may not bring or maintain a civil action (including an action that is pending on the date of enactment of this Act) under section 9 or 10 of the Act of March 3, 1899 (33 U.S.C. 401; 403), against a State for any measure undertaken by the State to build, construct, erect, or otherwise install a barrier along the international border of the State for the purpose of-- (1) preventing aliens from entering the State in violation of the immigration laws; or (2) protecting the territory of the State. (b) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Alien.--The term ``alien'' has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101). (2) Barrier.--The term ``barrier'' means any physical structure intended to secure the border, including a wall, fence, or floating buoy. (3) Immigration laws.--The term ``immigration laws'' has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101). <all>