Protecting American Railroad Workers’ Jobs Act of 2026

This bill amends federal transportation law to address cross-border rail operations with Mexico, specifically targeting the protection of American railroad workers' jobs. It mandates that freight trains entering the United States from Mexico must halt at the southern border for a crew interchange and federally mandated safety testing.

Following this stop, only specific individuals are permitted to operate these trains within the United States. These operators must be either U.S. nationals or aliens lawfully authorized to work and reside in the U.S., with their primary reporting point in the U.S. The legislation aims to ensure that American workers handle cross-border rail traffic after it enters the U.S., thereby protecting their employment.