Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act
The Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act would expand the U.S. government’s outbound inspection capabilities at the southern land border (U.S.–Mexico) for a five-year period. Key changes include adding new imaging equipment and infrastructure to inspect vehicles and travelers leaving the U.S., substantially increasing Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) personnel to target outbound smuggling and related crimes, and mandating regular reporting on resources and outcomes. The bill also requires a minimum outbound inspection rate (10% of conveyances leaving the U.S. for Mexico by 2027, with future plans for 15% and 20%) and introduces quarterly seizure reports of currency, firearms, and ammunition. A sunset clause means the outbound imaging and related infrastructure authorities would expire after five years unless extended. In short, the bill aims to deter and interdict cross-border smuggling (currency, firearms, drugs, contraband, and human trafficking) by increasing outbound inspections, staffing, and transparency, while pushing for closer coordination with Mexican authorities. It would be temporary but with a clear plan for scaling inspection rates and reporting on effectiveness.
Key Points
- 1Infrastructure expansion for outbound southbound inspections
- 2- CBP would be authorized to purchase up to 50 additional non-intrusive imaging systems plus related infrastructure, deployed along the southern border to inspect people, vehicles, and transportation leaving the U.S. to Mexico; sunset after five years for these imaging-related provisions.
- 3- The agency may also deploy alternative equipment deemed necessary for outbound inspections.
- 4Substantial increase in Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) staffing
- 5- The Director of ICE/HSI must hire at least 100 new HSI special agents for outbound currency and firearm smuggling investigations (U.S. to Mexico).
- 6- The Director must hire at least 100 additional HSI special agents to assist with smuggling of contraband, human trafficking (including child trafficking), drug smuggling, and unauthorized entry from Mexico; plus authority to hire necessary support staff.
- 7Mandatory reporting on resources and operations
- 8- Within 12 months, DHS must report on resources (equipment, personnel, infrastructure) and the budgets for outbound and inbound inspections, including whether resources are used for inspections from the U.S. to Mexico or Canada and inbound from those countries.
- 9- The report must describe the cadence and scope of inspections, plans for alternative inspection sites near ports of entry, and estimates of how many vehicles could be inspected with the additional imaging systems (for both outbound and inbound cases). It also must assess Mexico’s ability to cooperate with U.S. authorities to interdict weapons and currency flows.
- 10Minimum outbound inspection rate and future planning
- 11- By March 30, 2027, DHS must ensure that at least 10% of conveyances traveling from the U.S. to Mexico are inspected before leaving the U.S., using non-intrusive imaging, physical inspections, canine units, or other authorized methods.
- 12- By March 30, 2028, DHS must report on the timeline and resources needed to raise inspection rates to 15% and 20%.
- 13Regular currency and firearms seizure reporting
- 14- CBP must deliver a quarterly report starting within 90 days of enactment and every 90 days thereafter for four years, detailing currency seizures, firearms, ammunition seized at outbound inspections, and related totals (counts and dollar values), plus incidents at U.S. ports of entry.