The PATROL Act prohibits the federal Department of Justice from suing states for constructing barriers along international borders to prevent unauthorized immigration or protect state territory. The bill specifically prevents the DOJ from bringing civil actions under two sections of an 1899 federal law that currently allows such enforcement actions. The legislation defines "barriers" broadly to include walls, fences, and floating buoys, and applies to both new and pending lawsuits. This bill would give states legal protection to pursue border security measures without federal interference, though it does not provide any new funding or establish specific timelines for implementation. The legislation was introduced in December 2023 with bipartisan Republican sponsorship and referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Judiciary committees.
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