HouseH.R. 10656119th Congress
Nicholas Douglas Quets Border Travel Safety Act
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10656 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10656
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, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 1, 2026
Mr. Crane (for himself, Mr. Ciscomani, and Mr. Stanton) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 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, and for other purposes.
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. BORDER TRAVEL SAFETY.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) On October 18, 2024, while traveling from Arizona along
the southern border in the Mexican State of Sonora near Puerto
Penasco, Nicholas Quets was attacked and shot by armed
criminals associated with the Sinaloa Cartel at an unauthorized
cartel-controlled highway checkpoint, which resulted in the
tragic death of the 31-year-old American.
(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 due to
cartel activity in the area.
(4) 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.
(5) 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.
(6) 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.
(7) Clear and visible signage at land ports of entry and
surrounding areas would improve traveler awareness of such
risks and promote public safety.
(b) 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.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(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) 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.
(d) Warning Signage for Travelers Near Land Ports of Entry Along
the Southern Border.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Homeland Security,
acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the
Administrator of the General Services Administration, 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.
(2) Responsibilities of secretary of state.--The Secretary
of State shall--
(A) identify areas or routes near the United States
land border with Mexico that are designated as
dangerous in any Department of State Travel Advisory;
(B) provide the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection with updated advisory information
necessary for the content of warning signage; and
(C) provide the Secretary of Homeland Security with
the appropriate content and messaging of such signage.
(3) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, 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.
(e) Placement of Signage.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting
through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
shall, to the maximum extent practicable, install, maintain,
and update warning signage described in this section.
(2) Locations.--Warning signage developed pursuant to this
section shall--
(A) be placed--
(i) at appropriate land ports of entry
along the United States international boundary
with Mexico;
(ii) on appropriate roadways and routes
approaching, and in areas immediately adjacent
to, such ports of entry where travelers are
likely to cross the international boundary;
(iii) 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;
(iv) in locations that are clearly visible
to motorists and pedestrians; and
(v) in sufficient proximity to allow
travelers to make informed travel decisions;
and
(B) include the words ``pursuant to the Nicholas
Douglas Quets Border Travel Safety Act''.
(3) Coordination with state and local authorities.--In
placing signage pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary of
Homeland Security shall coordinate with, and may enter into
agreements, as may be necessary, with--
(A) State departments of transportation;
(B) local government officials; and
(C) other appropriate authorities responsible for
roadway infrastructure near the international border of
the United States.
(4) Content of signage.--Signage required under this
section shall, to the maximum extent practicable--
(A) clearly warn travelers of nearby areas or
routes identified as dangerous in Department of State
Travel Advisories;
(B) provide a reference to additional safety
information, including the Department of State travel
advisory website or a QR code linking to such
information;
(C) be displayed in a format that can be swiftly
and easily updated to reflect changes to applicable
Department of State Travel Advisories, and may include
risk indicators and incident alerts from the Department
of State;
(D) be displayed in English and Spanish, and any
additional languages the Secretary, in consultation
with the Department of State, determines appropriate;
and
(E) include any other safety information the
Secretary of State determines appropriate.
(f) Reviews and Updates.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, shall--
(A) annually review warning signage to ensure
accuracy and visibility; and
(B) update such signage as necessary to reflect
changes in Department of State Travel Advisories.
(2) 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.
(g) Reports to Congress.--
(1) 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--
(A) the implementation of the signage program
required under this section;
(B) the locations where signage has been installed;
(C) plans for updating such signage; and
(D) any recommendations for improving traveler
awareness of dangerous areas identified in Travel
Advisories.
(2) GAO report.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional
committees that--
(A) describes the efficacy of the travel advisory
warnings for travelers; and
(B) 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.
(h) No Additional Appropriations.--
(1) No additional funds authorized.--No additional funds
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section.
(2) Use of existing resources.--The Secretary of Homeland
Security and the Secretary of State shall carry out their
respective responsibilities under this section using amounts
otherwise appropriated or made available to their respective
departments.
(i) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act may be construed as
authorizing the use of force against Mexico or any entity or individual
within Mexico.
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