Congressman and former Navy SEAL Morgan Luttrell has introduced legislation designed to increase transparency around the activities of Mexican drug cartels and other organized crime groups at the U.S. border. Luttrell argues that the Biden administration's border policies have empowered these dangerous organizations, facilitating human and drug trafficking.
The proposed legislation, known as the CARTEL Act, mandates that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) disclose whether individuals listed in the Terrorist Screening Database have been released into the United States. Furthermore, the act requires the transparent monitoring of individuals with known cartel affiliations who have attempted illegal border crossings.
This initiative follows President Trump's recent executive order, which lays the groundwork for classifying drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. The order emphasizes the threat these groups pose to American safety, national security, and the stability of the Western Hemisphere. It specifically cites the cartels' role in destabilizing countries crucial to U.S. interests and their contribution to the influx of drugs, criminals, and gangs into the United States.
The executive order also addresses the growing concern surrounding other Latin American gangs, such as Venezuela's Tren de Aragua and El Salvador's MS-13, whose activities have reportedly spread into the U.S. Luttrell's legislation aims to provide clarity on who is attempting to enter the country and requires CBP to submit a detailed report to Congress outlining the involvement of terrorist organizations and cartels in illegal border crossings.
The CARTEL Act has garnered bipartisan support, with several representatives co-sponsoring the bill. Luttrell believes this legislation is essential for ensuring transparency and accountability in border security efforts and protecting American communities.
