Senators Lankford, Hassan Reintroduce Bill to Disrupt Cartel Operations by Increasing Southbound Border Inspections

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – US Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), both members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, reintroduced legislation to increase inspections of traffic going from the U.S. to Mexico, which would help combat the flow of illicit firearms and money that fuel drug cartels. 

“With border crossings at a record low, the results speak for themselves. President Trump’s leadership is making America safer; the southern border is much more secure than it was a year ago,” Lankford said. “But US Customs and Border Protection still doesn’t have the resources they need to stop gun smuggling to the criminal cartels in Mexico. We need to ensure border law enforcement has the personnel and technology to crack down on criminal activity that puts Americans at risk.”

“Dismantling drug cartels requires cutting off the flow of illegal firearms and cartel money moving from the U.S. into Mexico, which help give cartels the resources to continue to operate and flood our communities with deadly drugs,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation significantly enhances our southbound inspection capabilities, which will help disrupt cartel operations and reduce the trafficking of fentanyl, which has devastated communities across New Hampshire and nationwide.” 

Specifically, the Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act would: 

1. Require that at least 10 percent of southbound vehicles are inspected, to the extent practicable 
2. Authorize at least 100 additional Homeland Security Investigations agents to investigate the smuggling of guns and money from the U.S. into Mexico
3. Authorize at least 100 additional Homeland Security Investigations agents to investigate drug smuggling, human trafficking, child trafficking, and unauthorized entries from Mexico into the U.S.
4. Authorize 50 additional x-ray inspection systems for southbound inspections  

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