Bill Summary
This legislation, also known as the "Cooperation on Combating Human Smuggling and Trafficking Act," aims to enhance border security by expanding partnerships with law enforcement entities in Mexico, Central America, and South America to combat human smuggling and trafficking operations. The Secretary of Homeland Security will work with federal partners to establish or expand cross-border investigative units, participate in initiatives to combat human trafficking, and provide training for investigators and prosecutors in these countries. The legislation also calls for targeted public information campaigns to educate potential migrants about the dangers of crossing into the United States and to combat misinformation spread by criminal organizations and other actors. A report will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of these campaigns and identify best practices.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation may affect people who are involved in or victims of human smuggling and trafficking operations in Mexico and Central American and South American countries. The bill seeks to enhance partnerships with law enforcement entities in these countries to combat these illegal activities and prosecute the perpetrators.
2. The legislation could also affect people who are considering migrating to the United States by providing them with targeted public information campaigns to inform them of the dangers of traveling across Mexico and to combat misinformation and disinformation by criminal organizations. This could potentially deter individuals from attempting to migrate and put themselves at risk.
3. The legislation could also affect individuals within the Department of Homeland Security, as it directs the Secretary to evaluate and report on the potential for expansion of collaborative programs aimed at investigating and prosecuting human smugglers and traffickers. This could lead to changes in the department's operations and resources.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5315 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 748
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5315
[Report No. 118-328]
To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance border security
by seeking to expand partnerships with appropriate law enforcement
entities in Mexico and Central American and South American countries to
combat human smuggling and trafficking operations in Mexico and such
countries, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 14, 2024
Mr. Peters (for himself and Mr. Kelly) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs
December 19 (legislative day, December 16), 2024
Reported by Mr. Peters, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance border security
by seeking to expand partnerships with appropriate law enforcement
entities in Mexico and Central American and South American countries to
combat human smuggling and trafficking operations in Mexico and such
countries, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Cooperation on Combating
Human Smuggling and Trafficking Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PARTNERSHIPS TO COMBAT
HUMAN SMUGGLING AND TRAFFICKING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in
coordination with appropriate Federal partners, shall enhance border
security by seeking to expand partnerships with appropriate law
enforcement entities in Mexico and Central American and South American
countries to combat human smuggling and trafficking operations in
Mexico and such countries, including by--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) establishing or expanding cross-border
transnational criminal investigative units to identify,
disrupt, and support the prosecution of human smuggling and
trafficking operations;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) enhancing participation in the Bilateral Human
Trafficking Enforcement Initiative or a successor initiative;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) providing advanced training for certain
investigators and prosecutors from Mexico and other Latin
American countries.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Investigation and Prosecution of Human Smuggling and
Trafficking.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall seek to expand
collaborative programs involving Homeland Security Investigations that
are aimed at supporting the investigation and prosecution of human
smugglers and traffickers targeting children and families that pose
border security threats and operate at the southern land border of the
United States, including the continuation and expansion of anti-
trafficking coordination teams.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Information Campaign To Deter Migration.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland
Security shall carry out targeted public information
campaigns--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to inform targeted migrant populations
within Mexico, Central America, South America, and
certain other countries with high migration rates
regarding the dangers of travel across Mexico to the
United States; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to combat misinformation and
disinformation by transnational criminal organizations
and other nefarious actors regarding United States laws
or policies.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Specifications.--The information campaigns
implemented pursuant to paragraph (1) shall, to the greatest
extent possible--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) be targeted at populations and
localities with high migration rates;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) employ a variety of communications
media; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) be developed in consultation with
appropriate program officials of the Department of
State and, as appropriate, Mexican, Central American,
South American, and other appropriate foreign
governments, nonprofit or academic entities, and
representatives acting on behalf of targeted migrant
populations, including repatriated migrants.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Cooperation on Combating Human
Smuggling and Trafficking Act''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PARTNERSHIPS TO COMBAT HUMAN
SMUGGLING AND TRAFFICKING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in
coordination with appropriate Federal partners, shall combat human
smuggling and trafficking by seeking to expand partnerships with
appropriate law enforcement entities in Mexico and Central American and
South American countries, including by--
(1) establishing or expanding cross-border transnational
criminal investigative units to identify, disrupt, and support
the prosecution of human smuggling and trafficking operations;
(2) enhancing participation in the Bilateral Human
Trafficking Enforcement Initiative or a successor initiative;
and
(3) providing advanced training for certain investigators
and prosecutors from Mexico and such countries, including
training on civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy
protections.
(b) Investigation and Prosecution of Human Smuggling and
Trafficking.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall evaluate and
report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives regarding the potential for the expansion of
collaborative programs involving Homeland Security Investigations that
are aimed at supporting the investigation and prosecution of human
smugglers and traffickers that pose border security threats and operate
at the southern land border of the United States, including the
continuation and expansion of anti-trafficking coordination teams.
(c) Information Campaign to Deter Migration.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
carry out targeted public information campaigns--
(A) to inform targeted migrant populations within
Mexico, Central America, South America, and certain
other countries with high migration rates regarding the
dangers of travel across Mexico to the United States;
and
(B) to combat misinformation and disinformation by
transnational criminal organizations and other
nefarious actors regarding United States laws or
policies.
(2) Specifications.--The information campaigns implemented
pursuant to paragraph (1) shall, to the greatest extent
possible--
(A) be targeted at populations and localities with
high migration rates;
(B) employ a variety of communications media; and
(C) be developed in consultation with appropriate
program officials of the Department of State and, as
appropriate, Mexican, Central American, South American,
and other appropriate foreign governments, nonprofit or
academic entities, and representatives acting on behalf
of targeted migrant populations, including repatriated
migrants.
(d) Report on Effective Communications.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of
the United States shall--
(1) conduct a study that--
(A) assesses the effectiveness of public
information campaigns that have been implemented by the
Department of Homeland Security to carry out the
objectives set forth in subsection (c)(1); and
(B) identifies the best practices with respect to
such campaigns; and
(2) submit a report containing the findings of such study
to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the
House of Representatives.
Calendar No. 748
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5315
[Report No. 118-328]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance border security
by seeking to expand partnerships with appropriate law enforcement
entities in Mexico and Central American and South American countries to
combat human smuggling and trafficking operations in Mexico and such
countries, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 19 (legislative day, December 16), 2024
Reported with an amendment