[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4273 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4273
To install and maintain warning signage informing travelers of
dangerous areas or routes near the southern border of the United States
that have been identified in relevant Department of State Travel
Advisories.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 26, 2026
Mr. Kelly introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To install and maintain warning signage informing travelers of
dangerous areas or routes near the southern border of the United States
that have been identified in relevant Department of State Travel
Advisories.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Nicholas Douglas Quets Border Travel
Safety Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) On October 18, 2024, while traveling in the Mexican
state of Sonora near Puerto Penasco, Nicholas Quets was
targeted by armed criminals associated with the Sinaloa Cartel
and the 31-year-old American was tragically shot and killed in
a violent attack.
(2) The brutal murder of Nicholas Quets reflects the
ongoing threat posed by transnational criminal organizations
and cartel violence in the region.
(3) Nicholas Quets was shot while traveling along the
Altar-Caborca highway (Federal Highway 2) in Sonora, which is
frequently listed under a ``Reconsider Travel'' advisory.
(4) It is not known if Nicholas Quets was aware of any
travel advisories on his chosen route.
(5) The Department of State issues Travel Advisories to
inform United States citizens and other travelers of safety and
security risks in foreign countries and regions.
(6) Department of State Travel Advisories identify certain
foreign regions, including areas near United States land
borders, that present elevated safety or security risks due to
criminal activity, violence, kidnapping, or other threats.
(7) Individuals entering or departing the United States
through land ports of entry may not be aware that nearby areas
identified in Department of State Travel Advisories pose
heightened safety or security risks.
(8) Clear and visible signage at land ports of entry and
surrounding areas would improve traveler awareness of such
risks and promote public safety.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that clear and visible signage
displaying travel advisories at land ports of entry along the land
boundary between the United States and Mexico are necessary to improve
traveler awareness of safety or security risks due to criminal
activity, violence, kidnapping, or other threats.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;
(C) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House
of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives.
(2) Land port of entry.--The term ``land port of entry''
means a port of entry along an international land border
between the United States and Mexico.
(3) Travel advisory.--The term ``Travel Advisory'' means
the country-specific or region-specific safety advisory issued
by the Department of State to inform travelers of security
risks abroad.
SEC. 5. WARNING SIGNAGE FOR TRAVELERS NEAR LAND PORTS OF ENTRY ALONG
THE SOUTHERN BORDER.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting
through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, shall establish and carry out
a program to install and maintain warning signage informing travelers
of dangerous areas or routes near the southern border of the United
States that have been identified in relevant Department of State Travel
Advisories.
(b) Responsibilities of Secretary of State.--The Secretary of State
shall--
(1) identify areas or routes near the United States land
border with Mexico that are designated as dangerous in any
Department of State Travel Advisory;
(2) provide the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection with updated advisory information necessary for the
content of warning signage; and
(3) provide the Secretary of Homeland Security with the
appropriate content and messaging of such signage.
(c) Coordination.--In carrying out this Act, the Secretary of
Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection, shall coordinate with the Secretary of State,
appropriate State transportation and public safety agencies, and
relevant State, local, and tribal government officials.
SEC. 6. PLACEMENT OF SIGNAGE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through
the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall install,
maintain, and update warning signage described in this Act.
(b) Locations.--Warning signage developed pursuant to this Act
shall--
(1) be placed--
(A) at appropriate United States land ports of
entry along the border with Mexico;
(B) on all roadways and routes approaching, and in
areas immediately adjacent to, such ports of entry
where travelers are likely to cross the international
boundary;
(C) at any additional locations determined
appropriate by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in
consultation with State and local transportation
authorities, to ensure adequate traveler awareness;
(D) in locations that are clearly visible to
motorists and pedestrians; and
(E) in sufficient proximity to allow travelers to
make informed travel decisions; and
(2) include the words ``pursuant to the Nicholas Douglas
Quets Border Travel Safety Act''.
(c) Coordination With State and Local Authorities.--In placing
signage pursuant to this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security
shall coordinate with--
(1) State departments of transportation;
(2) local government officials; and
(3) other appropriate authorities responsible for roadway
infrastructure near the international border of the United
States.
(d) Content of Signage.--Signage required under this Act shall--
(1) clearly warn travelers of nearby areas or routes
identified as dangerous in Department of State Travel
Advisories;
(2) provide a reference to additional safety information,
including the Department of State travel advisory website or a
QR code linking to such information;
(3) be displayed in a format that--
(A) can be swiftly and easily updated to provide
timely information to travelers based on the Department
of State's Travel Advisory risk indicators, including
crime, terrorism, unrest, health, natural disaster,
time-limited event, kidnapping or hostage-taking,
wrongful detention, and others; and
(B) may include details regarding recent incidents
that illustrate the threat level for travelers from the
United States;
(4) be displayed in English and Spanish, and any additional
languages the Secretary, in consultation with the Department of
State, determines appropriate; and
(5) include any other safety information the Secretary of
State determines appropriate.
SEC. 7. REVIEWS AND UPDATES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, shall--
(1) annually review warning signage to ensure accuracy and
visibility; and
(2) update such signage as necessary to reflect changes in
Department of State Travel Advisories.
(b) Identification of Critical Changes.--The Secretary of State
shall notify the Secretary of Homeland Security whenever critical
changes have occurred that require warning signage to be updated.
SEC. 8. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
(a) Implementation Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in
consultation with the Secretary of State and the Commissioner of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection, shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees that describes--
(1) the implementation of the signage program required
under this Act;
(2) the locations where signage has been installed;
(3) plans for updating such signage; and
(4) any recommendations for improving traveler awareness of
dangerous areas identified in Travel Advisories.
(b) GAO Report.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall
submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that--
(1) describes the efficacy of the travel advisory warnings
for travelers; and
(2) indicates whether there are modernizations to warning
delivery that the Department of State or the Department of
Homeland Security could undertake to ensure travelers have
adequate awareness to potential travel-related dangers.
SEC. 9. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING USE OF FORCE IN MEXICO.
Nothing in this Act may be construed as authorizing the use of
force against Mexico or any entity or individual within Mexico.
<all>