Sponsor
Keith Self
Representative · R-TX
Representative · R-TX
The bill centralizes CBP leadership in Texas to improve border response and local coordination, but it shifts economic activity, imposes relocation costs on employees, and could create taxpayer and legal risks from land acquisition.
Border communities and federal border personnel: CBP headquarters will be relocated to Texas, consolidating operations closer to the southern border and enabling faster crisis response.
State and local agencies in Texas: Having the headquarters in Texas should improve coordination between CBP and Texas state/local officials during border incidents.
Taxpayers and federal project managers: The bill authorizes acquisition of land in Texas for the new headquarters, allowing a timelier procurement process without further congressional property approvals.
CBP employees and their families: Relocation will impose moving costs and disruption for federal employees required to move to the new headquarters location.
Residents and businesses in the prior headquarters area: Concentrating federal resources in Texas may reduce federal presence and related economic activity where the headquarters currently sits.
Taxpayers and state governments: Authorizing land purchase or transfer in Texas could create costs or legal/administrative burdens if acquisitions are contested or require litigation over titles.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs DHS/CBP to relocate CBP headquarters to Texas by January 1, 2026, and authorizes land acquisition with Texas cooperation.
Official title: To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to relocate to the State of Texas the headquarters of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 3, 2025 by Keith Self · Last progress January 3, 2025
Requires the Department of Homeland Security, through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to relocate CBP’s headquarters — including functions, personnel, and real assets — to the State of Texas no later than January 1, 2026. Directs the Secretary/Commissioner to work with the Texas General Land Office to meet a statutory location requirement, allows acquisition of land interests by written contract, and requires conveyed land titles to meet Attorney General standards for federal land acquisitions.