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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.
Summary
This bill prohibits the Department of Justice from filing civil lawsuits against states under a specific federal statute for constructing barriers along the international border. States could build walls, fences, or other physical structures along their borders for border security or immigration control purposes without facing federal civil action under this law. The bill defines the terms "alien," "barrier," and "immigration laws" according to existing federal immigration law.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
19 cosponsors
- Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36] (R-TX)
- Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5] (R-AZ)
- Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3] (R-SC)
- Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2] (R-OK)
- Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2] (R-TX)
- Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19] (R-FL)
- Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2] (R-MT)
- Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11] (R-NC)
- Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8] (R-CO)
- Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5] (R-NC)
- Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9] (R-AZ)
- Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1] (R-MD)
- Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1] (R-SC)
- Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R-TX)
- Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7] (R-NC)
- Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2] (R-KS)
- Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3] (R-TX)
- Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24] (R-TX)
- Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11] (R-FL)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Michael Cloud’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $165,527
- SAULSBURY INDUSTRIES $9,900
- ULINE $6,600
- MAGIC INDUSTRIES INC $6,600
- REPCON INC. $6,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Michael Cloud → · Outside spending →
Actions (3)
- Feb 5, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. · house
- Feb 5, 2025 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. · house
- Feb 5, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
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>
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