Stop the Cartels Act

Bill Number

H.R. 1915

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-06: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.

Last Updated

2026-06-11T23:26:35Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Stop the Cartels Act" (H.R. 1915) aims to enhance U.S. intelligence efforts against drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) operating in specific Latin American countries, including Mexico and Central American nations. It seeks to address the links between DTOs, human trafficking, smuggling, and migration to the U.S.-Mexico border; restrict federal funding to U.S. jurisdictions that hinder immigration enforcement; tighten border policies to combat cartel-related human trafficking; and redirect federal resources toward substance abuse prevention and treatment by repurposing existing programs.

Key Provisions

The bill is divided into four titles, outlining requirements for reports, designations, policy changes, and funding adjustments:

• Title I: Prioritizing Intelligence Gathering on Drug Trafficking Organizations
• Requires the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to submit reports within 60 days assessing DTO activities in "covered foreign countries" (Mexico, Central America, and select South American nations like Colombia and Venezuela), including impacts on security, migration, smuggling routes, intersections with human trafficking, and illicit financing.
• Mandates a similar report on human trafficking and smuggling from these countries to the U.S.-Mexico border.
• Directs a review of intelligence priorities for these countries, with an initial report in 120 days and quarterly updates for five years, focusing on threats to U.S. and Western Hemisphere security.
• Withholds U.S. aid to Mexico until it removes post-2020 barriers to law enforcement cooperation, such as visa limits and its Foreign Agents law.
• Requires a plan to restart bilateral U.S.-Mexico security meetings and a review of past initiatives like the Merida Initiative.
• Authorizes the Secretary of State to designate specific Mexican cartels (e.g., Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel) as "Special Transnational Criminal Organizations," enabling asset freezes, material support prohibitions under 18 U.S.C. § 2339B, and judicial review processes.
• Mandates monthly Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports on migrant encounters, detentions, releases, and court appearances at the border.

• Title II: Eliminating Funding for Cartel Safe Harbor Jurisdictions
• Declares states or local governments "ineligible jurisdictions" if they violate immigration laws (e.g., restricting compliance with DHS detainers under 8 U.S.C. § 1373).
• Requires annual DHS determinations of ineligible jurisdictions, prohibiting them from receiving federal financial assistance in the following fiscal year.

• Title III: Targeting Cartel Human Trafficking at the Border
• Amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (8 U.S.C. § 1232) to allow DHS to detain alien minors (accompanied by parents) during removal proceedings, overriding prior court settlements like the Flores agreement; prioritizes cases for completion within 100 days; sets detention conditions at DHS discretion (no judicial review); and exempts family detention facilities from state licensing.
• Tightens "credible fear" standards for asylum claims at the border, raising the bar to "more likely than not" eligibility and limiting reviews; bars asylum for felons, certain inadmissible aliens, previously removed individuals, or those from countries with new refugee processing centers.
• Authorizes hiring 500 additional immigration judges and corresponding ICE attorneys and staff, plus funding for facilities.
• Establishes refugee application centers in Mexico and Central America for pre-U.S. processing of claims, with fees to deter fraud; sunsets after three years and 240 days.

• Title IV: Repurposing Federal Drug Programs
• Reauthorizes and increases funding for substance abuse prevention and treatment block grants to $3.96 billion annually for fiscal years 2025–2029.
• Offsets costs by repealing or terminating programs like Substance Abuse Treatment Programs of Regional and National Significance, Drug-Free Communities Support Program, Community Mental Health Services Block Grant, jail diversion grants, Project AWARE, and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Expansion Grants.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces new intelligence reporting and prioritization mandates not previously required, expanding DNI oversight on DTOs and human smuggling.
• Creates a novel "Special Transnational Criminal Organization" designation process, modeled on foreign terrorist organization rules, applying criminal penalties for support and enabling asset blocks without prior congressional approval.
• Overrides key immigration protections: Supersedes the 1997 Flores settlement (limiting child detention) and consent decrees; raises credible fear thresholds from a "significant possibility" to "more likely than not"; adds asylum bars for broad categories of applicants; and allows family detention without state licensing.
• Imposes funding cuts to non-compliant U.S. jurisdictions, building on but expanding 8 U.S.C. § 1373 enforcement.
• Repurposes drug policy funding by repealing multiple public health programs to boost block grants, shifting emphasis from community and diversion initiatives to broader prevention/treatment.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases workload for DNI, DHS, State Department, DEA, and DOJ through new reports, reviews, designations, hiring (e.g., 500+ judges), and aid conditions; may strain bilateral aid budgets and require facility expansions near borders.
• Citizens: U.S. residents in non-compliant states/localities could face reduced federal funding for services; enhanced anti-drug efforts might reduce cartel-related violence and substance abuse, but stricter asylum rules could limit humanitarian entries.
• International Relations: Conditions U.S. aid on Mexico's cooperation, potentially straining ties if barriers persist; establishes processing centers in Mexico/Central America, which could reduce irregular migration but face logistical or diplomatic challenges in host countries.
• Overall, aims to curb border crossings and cartel influence but could increase detention backlogs initially and affect migration flows from covered countries.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Government Entities: Intelligence community (DNI, CIA), DHS (CBP, ICE), State Department, DOJ (immigration courts), and HHS (drug programs).
• State and Local Governments: Those deemed "ineligible" lose federal funds, impacting sanctuary jurisdictions.
• Immigrants and Asylum Seekers: Families, minors, and border crossers face stricter detention, higher asylum bars, and mandatory pre-U.S. processing; potential for faster removals but more limited relief options.
• Drug Cartels and Criminal Networks: Designated groups (e.g., Sinaloa, Jalisco cartels) face asset freezes, criminal penalties for supporters, and heightened intelligence focus.
• U.S. Citizens and Communities: Affected by drug trafficking reduction efforts, increased border security, and repurposed substance abuse funding; taxpayers fund expansions and offsets.
• Foreign Governments: Mexico and Central/South American nations involved in cooperation, aid, and hosting processing centers.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The designation process allows classified evidence in decisions, with limited judicial review (e.g., D.C. Circuit only, based on administrative record); overrides settlements like Flores, potentially inviting lawsuits over due process. Asylum changes may conflict with international obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention or UN Convention Against Torture.
• Constitutional: Expanded family/minor detentions and no-review conditions could raise Fifth Amendment due process challenges, especially for children; preemption of state licensing implicates federalism under the Tenth Amendment.
• Political: Ties aid to Mexico's policies, risking diplomatic tensions; funding cuts to "sanctuary" areas may polarize domestic debates on immigration enforcement. Repurposing drug funds shifts priorities from mental health/diversion to treatment, potentially drawing criticism for reducing targeted community support. The bill's focus on cartels aligns with anti-trafficking rhetoric but could be seen as escalating U.S. intervention in Latin America.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8]

Cosponsors (6)

Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-06: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
• 2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2025-03-06: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-06: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Stop the Cartels Act — issued 2025-03-06 — PDF (44 pages)