What This Bill Does
This bill aims to improve how the U.S. government gathers intelligence about drug trafficking organizations and human smuggling in Latin America and the Caribbean. It also changes asylum policies, increases immigration court resources, and creates refugee processing centers in Mexico and Central America.
##
Who It Affects
- Intelligence agencies (CIA, FBI, DEA, State Department)
- Department of Homeland Security
- Drug trafficking organizations and criminal cartels
- States and local governments that limit immigration enforcement cooperation
- Families with migrant children in detention
- People seeking asylum or refugee status
- Immigration judges and attorneys
- Drug treatment and mental health service providers
##
Key Provisions
- Intelligence agencies must submit reports within 60 days assessing drug trafficking organizations' activities, human smuggling operations, and financial networks in covered foreign countries including Mexico, Central America, and South America (Sec. 101, 102)
- The Director of National Intelligence must review current intelligence priorities for covered countries and submit a comprehensive report within 120 days, followed by quarterly reports for 5 years on collection activities focused on drug and human trafficking threats (Sec. 103)
- The Secretary of State must designate nine specific drug cartels—including the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel—as Special Transnational Criminal Organizations, which freezes their U.S. assets and treats them as foreign terrorist-type organizations (Sec. 106)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection must submit monthly reports to Congress detailing migrant apprehensions, detention numbers, removals, asylum claims, and releases into the United States (Sec. 107)
- Families with migrant children may be detained together during immigration proceedings without following previous court settlement agreements, and states cannot require state licensing of family detention facilities (Sec. 301)
- People are ineligible for asylum if they were previously removed from the U.S., have felony convictions, or are nationals of Central American countries with refugee processing centers, except those already in the U.S. on the bill's enactment date (Sec. 302)
- The Attorney General must hire at least 500 additional immigration judges and corresponding support staff (Sec. 303)
- The Secretary of State must establish one refugee processing center in Mexico and at least three in Central America within 240 days (Sec. 304)
- States and local governments that violate immigration cooperation laws lose eligibility for federal grants in the following fiscal year (Sec. 201)
##
What Changes
**Intelligence and Reporting:** Multiple federal agencies create new reports analyzing drug trafficking, human smuggling, and criminal financial networks. Quarterly intelligence reports continue for five years.
**Cartel Designations:** Nine named drug cartels receive formal designations that freeze their assets in U.S. financial institutions.
**Immigration Detention:** Migrant families can be detained together indefinitely during removal proceedings without restrictions from the Flores settlement agreement (a previous court order limiting family detention).
**Asylum Eligibility:** New categories of people become ineligible for asylum, including those with felony convictions and nationals of Central American countries with processing centers.
**Immigration Courts:** 500 or more new immigration judges and attorneys are hired.
**Refugee Processing:** Refugee application centers open in Mexico and Central America outside U.S. borders.
**State Funding:** States and cities that limit immigration enforcement cooperation lose federal grant money.
**Drug Programs:** Block grants for substance abuse prevention and treatment increase from $1.9 billion to $3.96 billion annually (fiscal years 2023-2027). Six other federal drug and mental health programs are eliminated to offset this increase.
##
Important Definitions
- **Covered foreign countries:** Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela
- **Human trafficking:** Severe forms of trafficking in persons as defined by the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000
- **Special Transnational Criminal Organization:** A foreign criminal organization operating across borders for power and profit through illegal means, protected by corruption or violence, that threatens U.S. national security
- **Credible fear of persecution:** More likely than not that a person could establish eligibility for asylum, based on facts known and truthfulness of statements
- **Refugee application and processing center:** A designated facility (including U.S. embassies) that accepts and processes refugee admission applications
- **Ineligible jurisdiction:** A state or local government that violates immigration cooperation laws or restricts immigration enforcement detainers
##
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text for most provisions. However:
- Monthly DHS migrant reports begin the 15th day of the second full month after enactment (Sec. 107)
- Refugee processing center designations must occur within 240 days of enactment (Sec. 304)
- Refugee processing center provisions expire three years and 240 days after enactment (Sec. 304)
- DHS must make initial determinations on ineligible jurisdictions within 1 year of enactment, then annually (Sec. 201)
- Intelligence reports due within 60 days of enactment (Sec. 101, 102)
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 597
To improve the collection of intelligence regarding activities by drug
trafficking organizations in certain foreign countries.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 27, 2023
Mr. DAVIDSON (for himself, Mr. CLINE, Mr. GOOD of Virginia, Mr. DONALDS,
Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana, Mr. BANKS, Ms. GRANGER, Mr. BUCK, Mrs.
BOEBERT, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. NORMAN, Mr. JACKSON of
Texas, Mr. PERRY, Mr. TIFFANY, Mrs. MILLER of Illinois, Mr. BABIN,
Mr. CARL, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. LOUDERMILK, Mr.
ALFORD, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. OGLES, Mr. LAMALFA, Ms.
DE LA CRUZ, Mr. EZELL, Mr. GIMENEZ, Mr. WEBSTER of Florida, Mr.
ROUZER, Mr. MOORE of Alabama, Mr. BERGMAN, Mr. ALLEN, Mr.
GOODEN of Texas, and Mr. MANN) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the
Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Home-
land Security, Oversight and Accountability, Energy and Commerce, and
Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To improve the collection of intelligence regarding activities
by drug trafficking organizations in certain foreign countries.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
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•HR 597 IH
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
1
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
2
‘‘Stop the Cartels Act’’.
3
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for
4
this Act is as follows:
5
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I—PRIORITIZING INTELLIGENCE GATHERING ON DRUG
TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS
Sec. 101. Assessment of activities by drug trafficking organizations in covered
foreign countries.
Sec. 102. Assessment of human trafficking and smuggling from covered foreign
countries to the United States-Mexico border.
Sec. 103. Prioritization of intelligence resources for covered foreign countries.
Sec. 104. Resolving intelligence sharing and cooperation agreements.
Sec. 105. Review of Mexico and United States bilateral cooperation.
Sec. 106. Designation of certain drug cartels as Special Transnational Criminal
Organization.
Sec. 107. Monthly Department of Homeland Security reports on migrants.
Sec. 108. Definitions.
TITLE II—ELIMINATING FUNDING FOR CARTEL SAFE HARBOR
JURISDICTIONS
Sec. 201. Ineligibility for Federal grants of certain jurisdictions that violate the
immigration laws.
TITLE III—TARGETING CARTEL HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT THE
BORDER
Sec. 301. Ending family separation and protection of minors.
Sec. 302. Stopping asylum fraud.
Sec. 303. Hiring authority.
Sec. 304. Refugee application and processing centers.
TITLE IV—REPURPOSING FEDERAL DRUG PROGRAMS
Sec. 401. Reauthorization of block grants for prevention and treatment of sub-
stance abuse.
Sec. 402. Offsetting repeals.
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•HR 597 IH
TITLE I—PRIORITIZING INTEL-
1
LIGENCE
GATHERING
ON
2
DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANI-
3
ZATIONS
4
SEC. 101. ASSESSMENT OF ACTIVITIES BY DRUG TRAF-
5
FICKING ORGANIZATIONS IN COVERED FOR-
6
EIGN COUNTRIES.
7
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date
8
of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National In-
9
telligence, in coordination with the Chief of Intelligence
10
of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Assist-
11
ant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, shall
12
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a re-
13
port containing an analytical assessment of the activities
14
of drug trafficking organizations in covered foreign coun-
15
tries. Such assessment shall include, at a minimum—
16
(1) an assessment of the effect of drug traf-
17
ficking organizations on the security and economic
18
situation in covered foreign countries;
19
(2) an assessment of the effect of the activities
20
of drug trafficking organizations on the migration of
21
persons from covered foreign countries to the United
22
States-Mexico border;
23
(3) a summary of any relevant activities by ele-
24
ments of the intelligence community in relation to
25
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•HR 597 IH
drug trafficking organizations in covered foreign
1
countries and Mexico;
2
(4) a summary of key methods and routes used
3
by drug trafficking organizations in covered foreign
4
countries and Mexico to the United States;
5
(5) an assessment of the intersection between
6
the activities of drug trafficking organizations,
7
human traffickers and human smugglers, and other
8
organized criminal groups in covered foreign coun-
9
tries; and
10
(6) an assessment of the illicit funds and finan-
11
cial transactions that support the activities of drug
12
trafficking organizations and connected criminal en-
13
terprises in covered foreign countries.
14
(b) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a)
15
may be submitted in classified form, but if so submitted,
16
shall contain an unclassified summary.
17
(c) AVAILABILITY.—The report under subsection (a),
18
or the unclassified summary of the report described in
19
subsection (b), shall be made publicly available.
20
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•HR 597 IH
SEC. 102. ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND
1
SMUGGLING
FROM
COVERED
FOREIGN
2
COUNTRIES TO THE UNITED STATES-MEXICO
3
BORDER.
4
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 60 days
5
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director
6
of National Intelligence, in coordination with the Under
7
Secretary of Homeland Security for Intelligence and Anal-
8
ysis and the Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence
9
and Research, shall submit to the appropriate congres-
10
sional committees a report containing an analytical assess-
11
ment of human trafficking and human smuggling by indi-
12
viduals and organizations in covered foreign countries.
13
Such assessment shall include, at a minimum—
14
(1) an assessment of the effect of human traf-
15
ficking and human smuggling on the security and
16
economic situation in covered foreign countries;
17
(2) a summary of any relevant activities by ele-
18
ments of the intelligence community in relation to
19
human trafficking and human smuggling in covered
20
foreign countries;
21
(3) an assessment of the methods and routes
22
used by human traffickers and human smuggler or-
23
ganizations to move persons from covered foreign
24
countries to the United States-Mexico border;
25
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•HR 597 IH
(4) an assessment of the intersection between
1
the activities of human traffickers and human smug-
2
glers, drug trafficking organizations, and other orga-
3
nized criminal groups in covered foreign countries;
4
and
5
(5) an assessment of the illicit funds and finan-
6
cial transactions that support the activities of
7
human traffickers and human smugglers and con-
8
nected criminal enterprises in covered foreign coun-
9
tries.
10
(b) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a)
11
may be submitted in classified form, but if so submitted,
12
shall contain an unclassified summary.
13
(c) AVAILABILITY.—The report under subsection (a),
14
or the unclassified summary of the report described in
15
subsection (b), shall be made publicly available.
16
SEC. 103. PRIORITIZATION OF INTELLIGENCE RESOURCES
17
FOR COVERED FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
18
(a) REVIEW
OF INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY EF-
19
FORTS IN COVERED FOREIGN COUNTRIES.—The Director
20
of National Intelligence, in coordination with the Under
21
Secretary of Homeland Security for Intelligence and Anal-
22
ysis, the Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and
23
Research, the Chief of Intelligence of the Drug Enforce-
24
ment Administration, and other appropriate officials in
25
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•HR 597 IH
the intelligence community, shall carry out a comprehen-
1
sive review of the current intelligence collection priorities
2
of the intelligence community for covered foreign countries
3
in order to identify whether such priorities are appropriate
4
and sufficient in light of the threat posed by the activities
5
of drug trafficking organizations and human traffickers
6
and human smugglers to the security of the United States
7
and the Western Hemisphere.
8
(b) REPORTS.—
9
(1) REPORT
ON
INITIAL
REVIEW.—Not later
10
than 120 days after the date of the enactment of
11
this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall
12
submit to the congressional intelligence committees a
13
comprehensive description of the results of the re-
14
view required by subsection (a), including whether
15
the priorities described in that subsection are appro-
16
priate and sufficient in light of the threat posed by
17
the activities of drug trafficking organizations and
18
human traffickers and human smugglers to the secu-
19
rity of the United States and the Western Hemi-
20
sphere. If the report concludes that such priorities
21
are not so appropriate and sufficient, the report
22
shall also include a description of the actions to be
23
taken to modify such priorities in order to assure
24
that such priorities are so appropriate and sufficient.
25
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•HR 597 IH
(2) QUARTERLY REPORTS.—Not later than 90
1
days after the date on which the report under para-
2
graph (1) is submitted, and every 90 days thereafter
3
for a 5-year period, the Director of National Intel-
4
ligence shall submit to the congressional intelligence
5
committees a report on the intelligence community’s
6
collection priorities and activities in covered foreign
7
countries with a focus on the threat posed by the ac-
8
tivities of drug trafficking organizations and human
9
traffickers and human smugglers to the security of
10
the United States and the Western Hemisphere. The
11
first report under this paragraph shall also include
12
a description of the amount of funds expended by
13
the intelligence community to the efforts described
14
in subsection (a) during each of fiscal years 2021
15
and 2022.
16
(c) FORM.—The reports required by subsection (b)
17
may be submitted in classified form, but if so submitted,
18
shall contain an unclassified summary.
19
SEC. 104. RESOLVING INTELLIGENCE SHARING AND CO-
20
OPERATION AGREEMENTS.
21
None of the amounts appropriated to the Department
22
of State to combat the threats of drug trafficking,
23
transnational organized crime, and money laundering or
24
appropriated to the United States Agency for Inter-
25
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•HR 597 IH
national Development may be made available to the Mexi-
1
can federal government or its subsidiaries until the Sec-
2
retary of State certifies to Congress that Mexico has re-
3
moved all barriers to bilateral cooperation created after
4
December 2020 that have hindered law enforcement co-
5
operation and intelligence-sharing between United States
6
and Mexican law enforcement agencies, including the im-
7
plementation of the Foreign Agents law and the limits
8
that have been placed on issuing visas to United States
9
law enforcement personnel.
10
SEC. 105. REVIEW OF MEXICO AND UNITED STATES BILAT-
11
ERAL COOPERATION.
12
(a) PLAN TO REESTABLISH BILATERAL SECURITY
13
MEETINGS.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the
14
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consulta-
15
tion with the heads of other relevant Federal departments
16
and agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congres-
17
sional committees a plan and timeline to reestablish reg-
18
ular bilateral security meetings between appropriate high-
19
level and working-level officials of the Governments of the
20
United States and Mexico that serve as a forum to align
21
and reconcile priorities between the United States and
22
Mexico and to periodically assess progress for bilateral co-
23
operation. The plan shall include possible areas of co-
24
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•HR 597 IH
operation at the Federal, State, and local levels with
1
United States goals for assistance.
2
(b) COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW.—Not later than 90
3
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
4
retary of State and the Administrator of the United States
5
Agency for International Development, in consultation
6
with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and
7
agencies, shall submit a report to appropriate congres-
8
sional committees that—
9
(1) provides a review of programs, projects, and
10
activities implemented as part of either the Merida
11
Initiative or The Bicentennial Framework; and
12
(2) includes—
13
(A) evaluations, assessments, or other
14
analyses, as appropriate;
15
(B) successes, challenges, and lessons
16
learned in achieving program outcomes and
17
United States policy goals;
18
(C) recommendations to change investment
19
levels in specific projects; and
20
(D) to the extent practicable, an assess-
21
ment of the effect, if any, of Mexico’s Foreign
22
Agents law on bilateral security cooperation
23
with the Department of State, the United
24
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•HR 597 IH
States Agency for International Development,
1
and the Department of Justice.
2
SEC. 106. DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN DRUG CARTELS AS
3
SPECIAL TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGA-
4
NIZATION.
5
(a) DESIGNATION.—
6
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized
7
to designate an organization as a foreign Special
8
Transnational Criminal Organization in accordance
9
with this subsection if the Secretary finds that—
10
(A) the organization is a foreign organiza-
11
tion;
12
(B) the organization is a self-perpetuating
13
association
[Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]