S. 4273 — Nicholas Douglas Quets Border Travel Safety Act

This section sets forth congressional findings concerning the October 18, 2024, murder of 31-year-old U.S. citizen Nicholas Quets by Sinaloa Cartel-associated criminals along Federal Highway 2 in Sonora, Mexico (under a State Department "Reconsider Travel" advisory); ongoing risks from transnational criminal organizations near U.S. land borders; and the need for signage at land ports of entry to inform travelers of relevant State Department Travel Advisories.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that clear and visible signage displaying travel advisories is necessary at land ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border to improve traveler awareness of safety or security risks due to criminal activity, violence, kidnapping, or other threats.

This section defines terms used in the Act, including (1) appropriate congressional committees as the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, House Committee on Homeland Security, and House Committee on Foreign Affairs; (2) land port of entry as a port of entry along the international land border between the United States and Mexico; and (3) Travel Advisory as a country-specific or region-specific safety advisory issued by the Department of State to inform travelers of security risks abroad.

This section directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and in consultation with the Secretary of State, to establish a program to install and maintain warning signage near land ports of entry along the southern border informing travelers of dangerous areas or routes identified in Department of State Travel Advisories. The Secretary of State must (1) identify relevant dangerous areas or routes near the U.S.-Mexico land border, (2) provide updated advisory information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for signage content, and (3) supply appropriate content and messaging to the Secretary of Homeland Security. U.S. Customs and Border Protection must coordinate with the Secretary of State, state transportation and public safety agencies, and relevant state, local, and tribal officials.

This section requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to install, maintain, and update warning signage—developed pursuant to the Nicholas Douglas Quets Border Travel Safety Act—at U.S. land ports of entry along the Mexico border, on approaching roadways and adjacent areas, and at other appropriate visible locations in sufficient proximity for travelers to make informed decisions. The Secretary must coordinate placement with state departments of transportation, local officials, and other roadway authorities. Signage must (1) warn of nearby dangerous areas or routes per Department of State Travel Advisories; (2) reference additional safety information via the department's website or QR code; (3) use a swiftly updatable format reflecting risk indicators such as crime, terrorism, unrest, health risks, natural disasters, time-limited events, kidnapping, hostage-taking, or wrongful detention, and may detail recent incidents; (4) appear in English, Spanish, and other languages as determined in consultation with the Department of State; and (5) include other safety information as the Secretary of State deems appropriate.

This section requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to (1) annually review warning signage to ensure its accuracy and visibility and (2) update such signage as necessary to reflect changes in Department of State Travel Advisories. The section further requires the Secretary of State to notify the Secretary of Homeland Security of critical changes requiring signage updates.

This section requires two reports to the appropriate congressional committees: (1) from the Secretary of Homeland Security, not later than one year after enactment and in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, describing implementation of the signage program required under this Act, locations of installed signage, plans for updating such signage, and recommendations for improving traveler awareness of dangerous areas identified in Travel Advisories; and (2) from the Comptroller General of the United States, describing the efficacy of travel advisory warnings for travelers and potential modernizations to warning delivery by the Department of State or the Department of Homeland Security to ensure awareness of potential travel-related dangers.