The Bipartisan “Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act” Would Crack Down on Outbound Smuggling Operations & Cut Off Resources to Cartels

Companion Legislation is Led in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Senators James Lankford & Maggie Hassan

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-02) — both Members of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee — today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to increase inspections of outbound traffic from the United States to Mexico and provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with additional staff and resources to combat the flow of illicit firearms and money that fuel cartel operations, such as fentanyl trafficking.

Cartels — or transnational criminal organizations — are taking advantage of gaps in outbound inspection enforcement to traffic firearms, illegal money from drug sales, and other contraband into Mexico to fuel illegal drug trade, human trafficking, and other criminal operations. These criminals rely on a steady supply of firearms and ammunition to fuel their operations. Outbound inspections deter criminal activity by cutting off the resources cartels need to continue their illegal operations. Between fiscal years 2018 and 2022, CBP’s Office of Field Operations seized $58 million in currency and 2,306 firearms through outbound inspections. However, these inspections are not being conducted consistently at our southern border.

The bipartisan Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act would strengthen outbound inspection processes at the southern border to cut off resources to cartels and disrupt organized criminal operations. The bipartisan legislation would require CBP to hire additional officers to assist with outbound inspections and require ICE to hire additional Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) personnel to primarily assist with investigations involving smuggling of currency and firearms at the southern border. Additionally, the legislation would authorize the purchase of additional non-intrusive imaging systems — technology that allows law enforcement officers to screen a larger portion of traffic at the southern border more quickly and efficiently.

“As a former CIA case officer who tracked cartels, I understand how these criminals smuggle firearms and bulk currency across our southern border to move the illicit proceeds that continue to fuel their criminal operations. We must continue working to stem the flow of deadly fentanyl into our communities — and we can do so by working to cut off the steady supply of contraband that props up the drug trade,” said Spanberger. “We must provide the men and women who secure our southern border with the resources necessary to cut off this supply and keep our communities safe. I’m grateful to my colleague, Representative Crenshaw, for working with me to disrupt the transnational organized crime that threatens U.S. security at and beyond our southern border.”

“Southward bound guns and money fuel the cartel’s war in Mexico and the fentanyl crisis that is poisoning Americans. We have to stop the flow,” said Crenshaw. “As it stands, U.S. Customs and Border Protection do not have the resources to monitor southbound flows — but this bill helps fix that and serves as a good step in taking the fight to the cartels and disrupts their business operations.”

Specifically, the Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act would:

• Authorize at least 500 CBP officers to assist with outbound inspections at the southern border.

• Authorize at least 500 HSI special agents to primarily assist with investigations involving smuggling of currency and firearms at the southern border.

• Authorize 50 additional non-intrusive imaging systems and the procurement of additional infrastructure or alternative inspection equipment at the U.S.-Mexico border.

• Require that at least 10 percent of all outbound conveyances at the southern border be inspected, to the extent practical, and require the DHS Secretary to submit a report one year after the bill’s enactment on the feasibility of increasing inspection rates to 15 and 20 percent.

Companion legislation is led in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).

Click here for full bill text.

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