Central ND News

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) have introduced the Creating Obstructions Necessary to Address Illegal and Nefarious Entry Rapidly (CONTAINER) Act, a bill that would enable border states to take action to secure the international border of the United States. The legislation comes in response to the ongoing crisis at the southern border, which has seen over eight million illegal border crossings and more than five million apprehensions since President Biden took office in 2021.

The CONTAINER Act aims to address the challenges faced by border states in securing the border by allowing them to place temporary, moveable structures on federal land without seeking prior federal approval. These structures, such as the shipping containers used by Texas and Arizona, would serve to fill gaps in the unfinished border wall and provide additional security measures. The bill would grant states the flexibility to keep these structures on federal land for up to a year, with the possibility of 90-day extensions.

Senator Cramer expressed his frustration with the Biden administration's approach to border security, stating, "The Biden administration's refusal to secure our southern border has forced states to combat the crisis on their own. Instead of fixing its policy decisions, the administration sued states trying to stem the flow." He emphasized the need for states to have the autonomy to take action when the federal government fails to fulfill its duty to safeguard the country's territorial integrity.

Several other senators have cosigned the CONTAINER Act, showing bipartisan support for the bill. Among the cosigners are U.S. Senators JD Vance (R-OH), Cindy Hyde Smith (R-MS), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Ted Budd (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mike Braun (R-IN), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Ted Cruz (R-TX).

The introduction of the CONTAINER Act comes after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Arizona, claiming that the shipping containers along the southern border violated federal law. While Arizona has started to remove the containers, Texas has chosen to maintain its wall of shipping containers as a means of securing its border.

This legislation seeks to address the urgent need for effective border security measures at a time when the influx of illegal border crossings remains a significant challenge. By granting border states the authority to utilize temporary structures on federal land, the CONTAINER Act aims to fill the gaps in the border wall and provide additional security measures to protect the country's borders.

As the CONTAINER Act makes its way through the legislative process, its supporters hope that it will provide a viable solution for states to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border. The bill offers a potential way for states to take action and secure the border in the absence of comprehensive federal action.

To find out more, go to this link: https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-introduce-bill-to-allow-states-to-utilize-temporary-structures-to-secure-border