Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 2643

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Passed House

Latest Action

2025-09-03: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Last Updated

2026-07-11T02:38:22Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025 aims to increase U.S. government oversight of connections between criminal gangs and influential political and economic figures in Haiti. It requires detailed reporting on these ties and mandates sanctions against those involved to protect U.S. national interests, such as reducing threats from gang activities, human trafficking, and instability in Haiti.

Key Provisions

• Reporting Requirements (Section 2): The Secretary of State must submit an initial report within 180 days of enactment, followed by annual reports for the next five years, to specified congressional committees. These reports, prepared with input from other federal agencies, must cover:
• Identification of major Haitian criminal gangs, their leaders, activities (e.g., forced recruitment), and operational areas.
• Listing of Haitian political and economic elites (e.g., government officials, business leaders) with direct links to gangs, including related organizations.
• Detailed descriptions of these relationships and how elites use gangs to advance their political or economic goals.
• Assessment of gangs involved in trafficking people (including Haitians) to the U.S. border.
• Evaluation of connections between Haitian elites, gangs, and international criminal networks.
• Analysis of how this collusion harms Haitians and U.S. interests in Haiti.
• Recommendations for U.S. actions to counter these ties.
• Reports are unclassified but may include a classified section for sensitive details.

• Sanctions (Section 3): Within 90 days of each report, the President must impose sanctions on identified gang leaders and linked elites (defined as foreign persons). Sanctions include:
• Property Blocking: Freezing assets and prohibiting transactions involving their property in or controlled by the U.S., using powers from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA, a law allowing the President to manage economic emergencies).
• Visa and Entry Restrictions: Barring these individuals from entering the U.S., revoking existing visas, and denying immigration benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act (a key U.S. immigration law).

Exceptions include:

• Allowing entry if needed to meet U.S. obligations to the United Nations.
• Exempting humanitarian aid, such as food, medicine, or related financial transactions and transport to Haiti.
• No sanctions on importing goods to Haiti.

The President can waive sanctions if deemed vital to U.S. national interests, with notification to Congress. Violations carry penalties under IEEPA, including fines and imprisonment.

• Definitions (Section 4): Clarifies terms like "appropriate congressional committees" (e.g., House and Senate foreign affairs, intelligence, and appropriations committees), "foreign person" (non-U.S. individuals or entities), "United States person" (U.S. citizens, residents, or U.S.-based entities), "economic elites" (influential business leaders controlling Haiti's economy or industries), and "political elites" (current/former officials, party leaders).

• Sunset Clause (Section 5): The law expires five years after enactment, ending the reporting and sanction authorities.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This act builds on established laws like IEEPA (for economic sanctions) and the Immigration and Nationality Act (for visa controls) but introduces targeted, mandatory mechanisms specific to Haiti. It requires new annual reporting on gang-elite collusion, which was not previously mandated, and automatically triggers sanctions based on report findings—unlike many prior sanctions laws that give the President more discretion. It does not alter core IEEPA provisions but applies them narrowly to Haitian actors, with built-in humanitarian exemptions to avoid broad disruptions.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The State Department faces ongoing reporting burdens, while the President, Department of Homeland Security, and Treasury must implement sanctions, potentially straining resources for intelligence gathering and enforcement. Congressional committees gain enhanced oversight of U.S. Haiti policy.

• On Citizens: Haitian individuals linked to gangs or elites may lose U.S. access, affecting travel, business, or family ties. Ordinary Haitians could benefit indirectly if reduced collusion stabilizes the country and curbs gang violence or trafficking. U.S. citizens or businesses involved in Haiti aid or trade are protected from sanction disruptions via exemptions.

• On International Relations: Could strain U.S.-Haiti diplomatic ties by targeting elites, potentially complicating aid efforts or cooperation on migration. It may deter transnational crime but risks escalating tensions if Haitian officials view it as interference. Positively, it signals U.S. commitment to addressing Haiti's instability, which contributes to regional migration pressures on the U.S. border.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Government Entities: State Department (lead on reports), President (sanctions decisions), congressional committees (oversight), and agencies like Homeland Security (visa enforcement) and Treasury (asset freezes).
• Haitian Actors: Criminal gang leaders, political elites (e.g., officials, party heads), and economic elites (e.g., business executives) with gang ties, who face financial and travel restrictions.
• Haitian People and Society: Potentially positively impacted by efforts to weaken gang influence, though short-term economic fallout from sanctioned elites could affect jobs or services.
• International Criminal Networks: Groups trafficking people or linked to Haitian gangs, facing indirect U.S. pressure.
• U.S. Interests: Aid organizations, businesses in Haiti, and border security efforts, with protections for humanitarian work.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Relies on IEEPA's broad executive powers for sanctions, which courts have upheld as constitutional for foreign policy but can face challenges if seen as overreach (e.g., due process for targeted individuals). The act's mandatory sanctions reduce presidential flexibility compared to similar laws, potentially inviting legal tests on enforcement.

• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to regulate foreign affairs and immigration (Article I) while delegating implementation to the executive (Article II), maintaining checks via reporting and waiver requirements. No direct free speech or due process issues, as it targets foreign persons.

• Political: Highlights U.S. concerns over Haiti's governance crisis and gang violence, which fuel migration and security threats. It could bolster bipartisan support for Haiti policy but risks politicization if waivers are used controversially. The five-year sunset allows for future reassessment, avoiding permanent entrenchment.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]

Cosponsors (9)

Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-03: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
• 2025-09-02: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
• 2025-09-02: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3731-3732)
• 2025-09-02: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
• 2025-09-02: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2643.
• 2025-09-02: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3731-3733)
• 2025-09-02: Mr. Baumgartner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
• 2025-04-09: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
• 2025-04-09: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2025-04-03: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
• 2025-04-03: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
• 2025-04-03: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-03: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-02 — PDF (12 pages)
• Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-03 — PDF (9 pages)
• Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-03 — PDF (10 pages)