H.R. 6619 — Introduced in House

I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6619 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 6, 2023Mr. Cloud (for himself, Mr. Allen, Mr. Babin, Mr. Brecheen, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Collins, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. DesJarlais, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Good of Virginia, Mr. Gooden of Texas, Mr. LaMalfa, Mrs. Lesko, Mr. Mooney, Mr. Norman, Mr. Rosendale, Mr. Rouzer, Mr. Roy, Ms. Van Duyne, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mrs. McClain, Ms. Greene of Georgia, Mr. Ogles, Mr. Davidson, and Mr. Fry) 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. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preventing Aliens Through Rivers Or Land Act or the PATROL Act. 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).