Border Lands Conservation Act

This bill directs the Interior and Agriculture Departments to inventory and build roads on federal land along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders and to work with the Department of Homeland Security on border technology. It amends the Wilderness Act to let Homeland Security use vehicles and aircraft, patrol, build roads and barriers, and deploy surveillance equipment in wilderness areas to secure the borders. It bars the land agencies from restricting Homeland Security activities within 100 miles of the borders, creates a program to reduce wildfire fuels on border land, and requires reports on environmental damage and fires linked to people without lawful immigration status. It also bans federal funds for housing such people on federal land, except at detention or processing facilities.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Mike Lee Republican sponsor
• 8 cosponsors