Stop the Cartels Act
Stop the Cartels Act
Plain Language Summary
# Stop the Cartels Act Summary **What it does:** This bill aims to strengthen immigration enforcement and combat drug trafficking by making several changes to U.S. immigration policy. It would penalize states and cities that don't comply with federal immigration detention requests, restrict how long immigrant minors can be detained by removing certain court-ordered protections, make it harder for people to qualify for asylum by raising the standard they must meet to prove they face persecution, and establish refugee processing centers in Central America.
The bill also addresses law enforcement cooperation related to drug cartels, though those details weren't fully summarized. **Who it affects:** The bill primarily impacts immigrants seeking asylum or facing detention, state and local law enforcement agencies, and federal immigration authorities. It would also affect sanctuary jurisdictions—cities and states with policies limiting immigration enforcement cooperation—by threatening to cut off federal funding if they don't comply with detention requests. **Current status:** The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress by Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH) and is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't been debated or voted on by the full House yet.
CRS Official Summary
Stop the Cartels ActThis bill addresses various issues relating to immigration, law enforcement cooperation with Mexico, and drug cartels.The bill bars federal financial assistance for state or local jurisdictions that (1) restrict compliance with immigration detainers issued by the Department of Homeland Security, or (2) have any law or policy that violates immigration laws.Furthermore, under this bill, the detention of alien minors must be governed by specified sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act and not any judicial decree or settlement. (A 1997 settlement agreement imposes requirements related to the treatment of such minors, including limits on how long they may be detained under certain conditions.)The bill also makes various changes to asylum applications, including by (1) increasing the burden that an asylum applicant must meet to establish a credible fear of persecution, and (2) establishing refugee application and processing centers in Central America.In addition, certain Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development assistance may not be made available to Mexico's government until the State Department certifies that Mexico has removed certain barriers to law enforcement cooperation and intelligence sharing between the United States and Mexico.The bill also establishes the foreign Special Transnational Criminal Organization designation and establishes penalties related to designated organizations, such as making it a crime to knowingly provide material support to such an organization. The State Department must designate specified organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel, with the designation, and may designate other organizations that fit the bill's criteria.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.