S4273Referred to Committee

Nicholas Douglas Quets Border Travel Safety Act

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Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
119th
Congress
2026-03-26
Introduced
0
Cosponsors
S
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

Mark Kelly
Mark Kelly
Democrat · AZ · Senator
Votes with party: 51.9% (308 recorded votes)

Full profile: /officials/K000377

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (0)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Latest Action

The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

2026-03-26

Source: Congress.gov

Committee Activity

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Plain-English Summary

Without specific subjects listed, this bill likely addresses safety measures or procedures for people traveling across U.S. borders, possibly named after an individual affected by a border-related incident. The bill has been sent to the Homeland Security committee, suggesting it may involve changes to border patrol operations, traveler screening processes, or safety protocols at ports of entry that would affect both U.S. citizens and international visitors crossing into the country.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

Subjects

Immigration

Full Bill Text

Verbatim text published on Congress.gov via GovInfo. Use Cmd+F / Ctrl+F to search within this excerpt.

[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…
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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>
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