Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act

Bill Number: S. 1897

Introduction Date: June 8, 2023

Sponsor: Ms. HASSAN (for herself and Mr. LANKFORD)

Summary: This bill aims to enhance the capabilities for outbound inspections at the southern land border. It requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to hire additional U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to assist with inspections of pedestrians, cars, trucks, and other modes of transportation traveling from the United States to Mexico. The bill also authorizes the purchase of imaging systems and alternative equipment for inspecting vehicles and individuals. Additionally, it mandates the hiring of Homeland Security Investigations special agents to assist with investigations involving the smuggling of currency and firearms from the United States to Mexico. The bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit reports on infrastructure limitations, plans to expand outbound lane capacity and inspection capabilities, and plans for alternative inspection sites. It also sets a minimum mandatory southbound inspection requirement and mandates quarterly reports on currency and firearms seizures at the southern border.

Section 1: Short Title

This section establishes the short title of the bill as the "Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act".

Section 2: Definitions

This section provides definitions for terms used in the bill, including "appropriate congressional committees" and "Southern Border".

Section 3: Additional U.S. Customs and Border Protection Personnel for Southbound Inspections

This section requires the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to hire, train, and assign at least 500 new officers to assist with inspections of vehicles and pedestrians traveling from the United States to Mexico. It also authorizes the hiring of additional support staff.

Section 4: Additional Inspection Equipment and Infrastructure

This section authorizes the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to purchase up to 50 non-intrusive imaging systems and additional alternative inspection equipment to be deployed along the Southern Border for the purpose of inspecting vehicles and individuals traveling from the United States to Mexico.

Section 5: Additional Homeland Security Investigations Personnel for Investigations of Southbound Smuggling

This section requires the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hire, train, and assign at least 100 new Homeland Security Investigations special agents to assist with investigations involving the smuggling of currency and firearms from the United States to Mexico. It also authorizes the hiring of additional support staff.

Section 6: Report

This section requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees within one year of the enactment of this Act. The report should identify infrastructure limitations, the number of dedicated outbound traffic lanes, plans to expand outbound lane capacity and inspection capabilities, and plans for alternative inspection sites near a port of entry along the Southern Border.

Section 7: Minimum Mandatory Southbound Inspection Requirement

This section requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to ensure that 20% of all vehicles traveling from the United States to Mexico are inspected before leaving the United States, to the extent practicable. The inspections may include non-intrusive imaging, physical inspections by officers or canine units, or other authorized means.

Section 8: Southbound Currency and Firearms Seizures Quarterly Report

This section requires the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to submit quarterly reports to the appropriate congressional committees on the seizure of currency, firearms, and ammunition attempted to be trafficked from the United States to Mexico across the Southern Border. The reports should include information on the total number and value of currency seizures, the total number of firearms and ammunition seized, and the total number of incidents of firearm and ammunition seizures at United States land ports of entry along the Southern Border.

Sen. Margaret Hassan

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