Stop COYOTES Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4472
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-17: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-16T08:07:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Stop COYOTES Act" (H.R. 4472) aims to enhance protections for children by increasing penalties for certain crimes committed near schools and youth areas, raise fines for fentanyl-related drug offenses, and improve information sharing among federal, state, and local agencies to combat border-related crimes such as human trafficking, smuggling, and drug importation along the U.S. southern border.
Key Provisions
- Enhanced Penalties for Child-Related Offenses (Section 2): Introduces a new section (2251B) in Chapter 110 of Title 18, U.S. Code, which adds up to 10 years of consecutive imprisonment for felony crimes involving minors (individuals under 18) if committed within 1,000 feet of schools (elementary, vocational, secondary, colleges, or universities), school activities, playgrounds, public housing, or within 100 feet of youth centers, public parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, or video arcades. Covered offenses include kidnapping, child pornography, sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, and transportation of minors for illegal sexual activity.
- Increased Fines for Fentanyl Offenses (Section 3): Amends Section 401(b)(1) of the Controlled Substances Act to impose higher maximum fines specifically for violations involving fentanyl (a highly potent synthetic opioid). For individuals, fines can increase to $15 million (from $10 million) for certain severe cases, with corresponding escalations for organizations up to $112.5 million (from $75 million), and similar adjustments for lesser violations.
- Information Sharing and Reporting (Section 4): Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to facilitate sharing of border-related crime data between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and state/local law enforcement agencies within 100 miles of U.S. land borders. DHS must submit reports to Congress every 180 days on topics including unlawful entries, human trafficking (especially sex trafficking and cases involving smuggling from Mexico), alien smuggling, kidnappings for smuggling purposes, abuse by traffickers, drug and firearm smuggling, and involvement of gangs or transnational criminal organizations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new criminal statute (18 U.S.C. § 2251B) to Title 18, creating location-based sentencing enhancements for child exploitation crimes, which did not previously exist in this specific form.
- Modifies fine structures in the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)) by introducing fentanyl-specific escalations, building on existing penalties for drug trafficking but targeting this substance more severely due to its public health risks.
- Establishes mandatory data-sharing protocols and biennial reporting requirements under DHS authority, expanding inter-agency collaboration beyond current voluntary practices, particularly for southern border activities.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: DHS, ICE, and CBP will face increased administrative burdens for data sharing and reporting, potentially improving coordination and enforcement efficiency. State and local law enforcement near borders may gain better access to federal intelligence, aiding investigations into trafficking and smuggling.
- On Citizens: Heightened penalties could deter crimes near child-frequented areas, enhancing community safety, especially in schools and parks. Victims of trafficking or abuse, including minors and smuggled individuals, may benefit from stronger prosecutions and faster responses. However, higher fines for drug offenses could lead to more severe financial repercussions for convicted individuals and organizations.
- On International Relations: Focuses on cross-border issues like smuggling from Mexico, which may strain U.S.-Mexico relations if perceived as accusatory, but could foster bilateral cooperation on trafficking and drug control through shared data.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Law Enforcement and Agencies: Federal (DHS, ICE, CBP), state, and local entities near borders, who will handle enhanced prosecutions and data sharing.
- Victims and Vulnerable Groups: Minors, trafficked persons (especially women and children smuggled across borders), and communities in border regions exposed to smuggling-related violence.
- Offenders and Criminal Networks: Traffickers, smugglers, drug distributors (particularly those dealing in fentanyl), and transnational gangs, facing steeper penalties and increased scrutiny.
- Congress and Policymakers: Responsible for reviewing DHS reports, potentially influencing future border security legislation.
- Border Communities: Residents within 100 miles of land borders, who may experience improved safety but also heightened law enforcement presence.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The consecutive sentencing provision strengthens child protection under federal criminal law but could lead to challenges regarding proportionality (e.g., under the 8th Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment) if applied cumulatively with existing penalties. Fentanyl-specific fines align with ongoing efforts to address the opioid crisis but may require courts to interpret "substance described in clause (vi)" consistently.
- Constitutional: No direct conflicts apparent, as enhancements target specific, enumerated crimes and locations without infringing on free speech or due process; however, expanded data sharing raises privacy concerns under the 4th Amendment if not balanced with safeguards.
- Political: Reinforces priorities in child safety, border security, and the fentanyl epidemic, appealing to bipartisan concerns over trafficking and drugs. The bill's referral to multiple committees (Judiciary, Homeland Security, Energy and Commerce) signals broad jurisdictional interest, potentially accelerating passage amid public demands for tougher immigration and crime measures.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-17: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
- 2025-07-16: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2025-07-16: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2025-07-16: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2025-07-16: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-16: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop Coyotes’ Oppression and Organized Trafficking, and Ensuring Safety Act — issued 2025-07-16 — PDF (6 pages)