12/27/2023
Today, I introduced a bill called the “Prevent Aliens Through Rivers or Land Act,” (PATROL Act) which would block the Department of Justice (DOJ) from using the Rivers and Harbors Act to bring a lawsuit against states for enforcing border security.
The bill is in direct response to the DOJ recently filing a lawsuit against the State of Texas, after Governor Abbott refused to remove a set of floating buoys along the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass designed to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing. The DOJ claims that Governor Abbott did not seek (or receive) a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to construct the buoys.
The need for urgency on border security cannot be understated. The PATROL Act allows states to build barriers to secure this nation and have more control in keeping their communities safe. If Joe Biden and his White House won’t do their jobs, Texas will.