Photo: Laura Nijssen on Unsplash.com

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - March 23, 2026

The Minnesota Senate is considering legislation that could impact the management of federal lands near the international border within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). At the federal level, U.S. Senator Mike Lee has introduced the Border Lands Conservation Act (also known as the Border Lands Protections Act), which seeks to expand the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authority to build infrastructure along the southern and northern U.S. borders. This intends to address what proponents describe as "border chaos" impacting the nation's parks and public lands.

The federal bill (S. 2967) was introduced in the U.S. Congress in October 2025. Supporters argue that current environmental restrictions hinder the ability of the DHS and law enforcement to protect public lands from what they say are the negative impacts of illegal crossings. The bill’s text indicates it would waive certain environmental reviews for the construction of roads, fences, towers, and sensors within a specific proximity to the international border.

In response to the federal proposal, Minnesota Senator Grant Hauschild introduced a resolution (SF 3880) urging Congress and the President to rescind or reject the Border Lands Conservation Act. On March 20, the resolution advanced through the Minnesota Senate Rules Committee to the Senate Floor and could be considered for a vote as early as this week.

According to a release from Senator Hauschild’s office, the primary concern is the potential impact on the BWCAW. Senator Hauschild stated that the federal proposal would "fundamentally disrupt" the wilderness by "bringing permanent infrastructure and enforcement operations into a place that has always stood apart." The resolution argues that such infrastructure would threaten the region's environment and wildlife.

Opposition to the bill has also been voiced by conservation groups. According to the organization Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters, the legislation is viewed as an attempt to "unravel" wilderness protections. These opponents argue that the act would permanently alter the character of the area and grant the DHS "unprecedented authority" to bypass long-standing environmental laws, such as the Wilderness Act and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), specifically within 100 miles of the border.

Alongside the Border Lands Conservation Act, the U.S. Senate is currently considering House Joint Resolution 140 (H.J.Res.140). Introduced on January 12, 2026, this resolution seeks to void Public Land Order 7917, a 2023 executive action instated by then-President Biden that withdrew 225,504 acres of the Superior National Forest from mining for 20 years.

Introduced by Representative Pete Stauber, proponents say the original ban is an "illegal overreach" that restricts domestic mineral production. Opponents, however, argue that overturning the withdrawal would allow sulfide-ore mining to threaten the BWCAW watershed. While the House passed the resolution in January, it has remained in the Senate throughout March. Under the Congressional Review Act, the Senate has a 60-legislative-day window to act, placing a potential deadline for a vote in late April 2026.