North Austin News

WASHINGTON – Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) has introduced the Creating Obstructions Necessary to Address Illegal and Nefarious Entry Rapidly (CONTAINER) Act, alongside Congressmen David Rouzer (R-N.C.) and August Pfluger (R-Texas). The legislation aims to empower border states to protect their communities and the nation against illegal immigration and drug trafficking by allowing them to place temporary barriers on federal land.

Rep. McCaul expressed his concerns about the current administration's approach, stating, “The Biden administration has chosen not only to abandon its responsibility to protect the states, but also to actively prohibit the states from protecting themselves.” He added, “For border states like Texas, the consequences have been devastating. I’m proud to support this bill to empower my governor and state officials with one more tool to secure our border and keep Americans safe.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Rep. Rouzer criticized the Biden Administration's border security efforts, highlighting the need for stronger measures. He emphasized, “No community is immune to the drugs, sex trafficking, and crime these policies are incentivizing while enriching the cartels. This bill will give border states the explicit ability to erect physical barriers to protect not only their citizens but all of America from President Biden’s catastrophic open-border policies.”

Supporting the legislation, Rep. Pfluger emphasized the importance of border security, stating, “States like my home in Texas have the right to secure their borders when the White House refuses to do so. I am proud to join this legislation that enables states to place temporary border barriers on federal land. Border security will always be national security.”

In the Senate, companion legislation was introduced by a group of Republican senators, including Marsha Blackburn, J.D. Vance, Cindy Hyde Smith, Pete Ricketts, Ted Budd, Bill Cassidy, Kevin Cramer, Mike Braun, Tim Scott, and Ted Cruz.

The background to this legislation stems from previous disputes between border states and the Biden administration regarding the placement of physical barriers along the southern border. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the administration's removal of razor wire installed by Texas, and the administration also took legal action against the placement of shipping containers by Texas and Arizona along the border wall.

The CONTAINER Act authorizes border states to place movable, temporary structures on federal land without prior federal approval to enhance border security. States would be allowed to keep these structures for up to a year, with the possibility of 90-day extensions after consulting with the Commissioner of CBP.

The bill seeks to address the constitutional right of states to protect themselves against invasion and defend their borders while navigating current federal regulations that limit their ability to take proactive measures.