Serious security gaps exist on federal lands along the northern and southern U.S. border.  While the goal of  the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Department of Agriculture is to protect our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and other public lands, internal documents have shown that DOI land managers are using environmental regulations (such as the Endangered Species Act or the National Environmental Policy Act) to hinder U.S. Border Patrol security efforts.   For example, Border Patrol is often blocked access to these lands, unable to use motorized vehicles to patrol these areas, and prevented from placing electronic surveillance structures in strategic areas.

As a result, our federal lands have become a highway open to criminals, drugs smugglers, human traffickers and potentially terrorists.  This has led to escalated violence and also caused severe destruction of the environment. 

Republicans have introduced legislation (H.R. 5016) to ensure that DOI and Department of Agriculture do not restrict or impede Border Patrol from having operational control of the border.  This would give Border Patrol both the authority and access to effectively monitor our federal lands on the border. 

Click here for additional facts and pictures.

• Text of H.R. 5016 
• October 2, 2009 letter from Secretary Napolitano
• 2007 letter from Arizona Rancher Rob Krentz
• May 2009 letter from FWS regarding emergency vehicle access to San Bernardino Wildlife Refuge 
• December 2009 letter from FWS to BP regarding vehicle access to San Bernardino Wildlife Refuge 
• 2002 DOI Threat Assessment Report

Dangers on the U.S. Border, Feature video (August 18, 2010)

Rep. Rob Bishop Speaks on Border Security Concerns on Federal Lands, U.S. House Floor (June 17, 2010)

U.S. Closes Park Land Along Mexico Border to Americans, FOX News (June 15, 2010)

Interior Department's loophole in U.S. border Patrol on Public Lands, FOX News (April 14, 2010)

Rep. Bishop challenges Sec. Salazar to implement changes to secure our border, U.S. House Floor (March 12, 2010)

• Border Patrol Charged Millions for Habitat Damage, Republicans Say Enough 'Extortion' (FOX News 6/21/10)
• Drug Cartel Activity Threatens Texas Water Supplies, Lawmaker Says (FOX News 6/21/10)
• Federal Regs on Environment May Be Hindering Border Security, Lawmakers Say (FOX News 6/16/10)
• U.S. Closes Park Land Along Mexico Border to Americans (FOX News 6/15/10)
• Border security prompts wilderness bill revision (AP 6/10/10)
• Border patrol has bear of time stopping terrorists from north (Washington Times 6/6/10)
• VIDEO: Border Troops Won’t Do Much, Say Residents (FOX News 5/26/10)