1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Securing Our Borders and Wilderness Act”.
Securing Our Borders and Wilderness Act
A BILL
To amend the Wilderness Act to authorize U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct certain activities to secure the international land borders of the United States, and for other purposes.
2. U.S. Customs and Border Protection access to wilderness areas
Section 4(d) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(8) U.S. Customs and Border Protection access
“(A) Permissible activities—Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection may conduct the following activities within a wilderness area for the purpose of securing the international land borders of the United States:
“(i) Access structures, installations, and roads.
“(ii) Execute search and rescue operations.
“(iii) Use motor vehicles, motorboats, and motorized equipment.
“(iv) Conduct patrols on foot and on horseback.
“(v) Notwithstanding any other law or regulation relating specifically to use of aircraft in a wilderness area or in the airspace above a wilderness area, use aircraft, including approach, landing, and takeoff.
“(vi) Deploy tactical infrastructure and technology.
“(vii) Construct and maintain roads and physical barriers.
“(B) Protection of wilderness character—Any activity conducted by the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection under subparagraph (A) shall be carried out in a manner that, to the greatest extent possible, protects the wilderness character of the area.”