Bill Summary
The "Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act" aims to strengthen the United States' capabilities for inspecting goods and individuals traveling from the U.S. to Mexico. Key provisions of the legislation include:
1. **Enhanced Inspection Equipment**: The act authorizes the purchase of up to 50 additional non-intrusive imaging systems to be deployed along the southern border, specifically for inspecting outbound transportation and individuals.
2. **Increased Personnel**: It mandates the hiring of at least 200 new special agents within Homeland Security Investigations to focus on various smuggling activities, including currency, firearms, human trafficking, and drugs.
3. **Reporting Requirements**: The Secretary of Homeland Security must submit a comprehensive report detailing resources allocated for inspections, operational statistics, and assessments of both outbound and inbound inspection capabilities.
4. **Minimum Inspection Standards**: By March 2027, the Secretary is required to ensure that a minimum of 10% of all outbound transportation from the U.S. to Mexico undergoes inspections.
5. **Quarterly Reporting on Seizures**: The act establishes a requirement for the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to report quarterly on the seizure of currency, firearms, and ammunition attempted to be trafficked out of the U.S.
Overall, this legislation seeks to enhance border security and combat illegal cross-border activities by improving inspection processes and increasing law enforcement personnel dedicated to these efforts.
Possible Impacts
The "Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act" could have several effects on individuals and communities, particularly those living near the southern border or involved in cross-border activities. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Border Security and Inspections**: The legislation mandates that a minimum of 10% of all vehicles and modes of transportation traveling from the United States to Mexico be inspected. This could lead to longer wait times at border crossings for travelers and commercial vehicles, affecting both personal travel plans and the efficiency of trade. Individuals transporting goods or traveling for leisure may experience delays, while businesses relying on timely deliveries may face logistical challenges.
2. **Enhanced Law Enforcement Presence**: The act authorizes the hiring of additional Homeland Security Investigations special agents to focus on smuggling activities, including firearms and human trafficking. This increased enforcement presence may deter criminal activities and provide a sense of safety for communities. However, it could also lead to heightened scrutiny of individuals crossing the border, potentially impacting lawful travelers and increasing the risk of false accusations or detentions for innocent individuals.
3. **Impact on Local Economies and Communities**: The increased inspections and enforcement actions could have broader economic implications for border communities. Businesses that rely on cross-border trade might experience disruptions, while the potential for increased law enforcement activities could lead to changes in community dynamics. For example, local residents might feel more secure or, conversely, more monitored and scrutinized, impacting their daily lives and interactions with law enforcement agencies. Additionally, communities may need to adapt to changes in population movement patterns as people adjust to the new inspection requirements.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1138 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1138
To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance capabilities
for outbound inspections at the southern land border, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 26, 2025
Ms. Hassan (for herself and Mr. Lankford) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance capabilities
for outbound inspections at the southern land border, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Enhancing Southbound Inspections to
Combat Cartels Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives;
(E) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House
of Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Southern border.--The term ``Southern Border'' means
the international land border between the United States and
Mexico.
SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL INSPECTION EQUIPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
(a) Imaging Systems.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection is authorized--
(1) to purchase up to 50 additional non-intrusive imaging
systems; and
(2) to procure additional associated supporting
infrastructure.
(b) Deployment.--The systems and infrastructure purchased or
otherwise procured pursuant to subsection (a) shall be deployed along
the Southern Border for the primary purpose of inspecting any persons,
conveyances, or modes of transportation traveling from the United
States to Mexico.
(c) Alternative Equipment.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection is authorized to procure additional infrastructure or
alternative inspection equipment that the Commissioner deems necessary
for the purpose of inspecting any persons, conveyances, or modes of
transportation traveling from the United States to Mexico.
(d) Sunset.--Subsections (a) and (c) shall cease to have force and
effect beginning on the date that is 5 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS PERSONNEL FOR
INVESTIGATIONS OF SOUTHBOUND SMUGGLING.
(a) HSI Special Agents.--The Director of U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement shall hire, train, and assign--
(1) not fewer than 100 new Homeland Security Investigations
special agents to primarily assist with investigations
involving the smuggling of currency and firearms from the
United States to Mexico; and
(2) not fewer than 100 new Homeland Security Investigations
special agents to assist with investigations involving the
smuggling of contraband, human trafficking and smuggling
(including that of children), drug smuggling, and unauthorized
entry into the United States from Mexico.
(b) Support Staff.--The Director is authorized to hire, train, and
assign such additional support staff as may be necessary to support the
functions carried out by the special agents hired pursuant to
subsection (a).
SEC. 5. REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit
a report to the appropriate congressional committees that--
(1) identifies the resources provided, including equipment,
personnel, and infrastructure, and the annual budget to carry
out outbound and inbound inspections, including, to the extent
practicable, resources specifically used for inspections of any
individuals and modes of transportation--
(A) from the United States to Mexico or to Canada;
and
(B) from Mexico or Canada into the United States;
(2) describes the operational cadence of all outbound and
inbound inspections of individuals and conveyances traveling
from the United States to Mexico or to Canada and from Mexico
or Canada into the United States, described as a percentage of
total encounters or as the total number of inspections
conducted;
(3) describes any plans that would allow for the use of
alternative inspection sites near a port of entry;
(4) includes an estimate of--
(A) the number of vehicles and conveyances that can
be inspected with up to 50 additional non-intrusive
imaging systems dedicated to southbound inspections;
and
(B) the number of vehicles and conveyances that can
be inspected with up to 50 additional non-intrusive
imaging systems that may be additionally dedicated to
inbound inspections along the southwest border; and
(5) assesses the capability of inbound inspections by
authorities of the Government of Mexico, in cooperation with
United States law enforcement agencies, to detect and interdict
the flow of illicit weapons and currency being smuggled--
(A) from the United States to Mexico; and
(B) from Mexico into the United States.
(b) Classification.--The report submitted pursuant to subsection
(a), or any part of such report, may be classified or provided with
other appropriate safeguards to prevent public dissemination.
SEC. 6. MINIMUM MANDATORY SOUTHBOUND INSPECTION REQUIREMENT.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than March 30, 2027, the Secretary of
Homeland Security shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that not
fewer than 10 percent of all conveyances and other modes of
transportation traveling from the United States to Mexico are inspected
before leaving the United States.
(b) Authorized Inspection Activities.--Inspections required under
subsection (a) may include non-intrusive imaging, physical inspections
by officers or canine units, or other means authorized by the Secretary
of Homeland Security.
(c) Report on Additional Inspections Capabilities.--Not later than
March 30, 2028, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a
report to the appropriate congressional committees that assesses the
Department of Homeland Security's timeline and resource requirements
for increasing inspection rates to 15 and 20 percent, respectively, of
all conveyances and modes of transportation traveling from the United
States to Mexico.
SEC. 7. CURRENCY AND FIREARMS SEIZURES QUARTERLY REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter until the date that
is 4 years after such date of enactment, the Commissioner for U.S.
Customs and Border Protection shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees that describes the seizure of currency,
firearms, and ammunition attempted to be trafficked out of the United
States.
(b) Contents.--Each report submitted pursuant to subsection (a)
shall include, for the most recent 90-day period for which such
information is available--
(1) the total number of currency seizures that occurred
from outbound inspections at United States ports of entry;
(2) the total dollar amount associated with the currency
seizures referred to in paragraph (1);
(3) the total number of firearms seized from outbound
inspections at United States ports of entry;
(4) the total number of ammunition rounds seized from
outbound inspections at United States ports of entry; and
(5) the total number of incidents of firearm seizures and
ammunition seizures that occurred at United States ports of
entry.
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