Sponsors (11)
The bill speeds state deployment and multi‑month retention of temporary border structures on adjacent federal land to bolster local border security, at the cost of limiting federal land‑management oversight and raising risks to tribal sovereignty, environmental stewardship, agency workloads, and local community access.
Border States and nearby border communities can place movable temporary structures on adjacent Federal land without a special-use permit after 45 days' notice, enabling faster state-led responses to border security gaps.
Border States, law enforcement, and local communities gain predictable multi-month authorization (initial placements up to one year with a 90‑day extension process and automatic consideration when CBP hasn't achieved operational control), improving planning, continuity, and stability for temporary barriers or facilities.
Tribal governments and Indigenous communities may have reduced control over federal lands that overlap tribal interests, creating conflicts with Tribal sovereignty and management.
Federal land managers and the public could face constrained environmental review and land‑use oversight on affected public lands, increasing the risk of ecological harm and degraded stewardship of federal lands adjacent to the border.
Border communities and local residents may experience reduced access to recreation, disrupted local environments, and other community impacts from temporary structures placed for up to a year or longer with possible extensions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced January 21, 2025 by Marsha Blackburn · Last progress January 21, 2025
Allows U.S. Border States to place movable, temporary structures on federal land next to the Canada or Mexico borders without getting a special use authorization, provided the state gives at least 45 days' notice. Structures can remain up to one year and may be extended in 90‑day increments after consultation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection; extensions must be approved if CBP says operational control of the border has not yet been achieved.