Overview
Title
To direct the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a report on the designation of the Gulf Cartel, the Cartel Del Noreste, the Cartel de Sinaloa, and the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion as foreign terrorist organizations, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The bill wants a big leader in the U.S. government to decide if some groups that make and sell bad things, called cartels, in Mexico should be treated like really dangerous groups and tell others in the government about it. If they are treated this way, it doesn't mean they can't ask to live in the U.S. if they need to.
Summary AI
H. R. 885 is a proposed law that directs the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress within 30 days, designating four major Mexican drug cartels — the Gulf Cartel, the Cartel Del Noreste, the Cartel de Sinaloa, and the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion — as foreign terrorist organizations. The bill requires a detailed report explaining the criteria each cartel meets for this designation, and if any do not meet the criteria, a justification for each. It also outlines that any additional cartels or factions identified in the report that meet the criteria should also be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. This act clarifies that it will not affect asylum eligibility for any individuals based on these designations.
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AnalysisAI
The proposed "Drug Cartel Terrorist Designation Act" is aimed at intensifying the United States' response to Mexican drug cartels by categorizing them as foreign terrorist organizations. This bill mandates that the Secretary of State evaluate and report whether these cartels fulfill the necessary criteria for such a designation under U.S. law. Additionally, the Secretary is required to extend this review to any other significant cartels, providing Congress with data electronically, with physical copies available upon request.
General Summary
H.R. 885, introduced in the House of Representatives, is crafted to prompt the Secretary of State to compile a detailed report regarding the designation of four notorious Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. These are the Gulf Cartel, Cartel Del Noreste, Cartel de Sinaloa, and the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación. The bill requires quick action, with the report due within 30 days of the enactment. This legislative effort underscores a growing stance of treating drug cartels similarly to international terrorist threats under U.S. law.
Significant Issues
Several issues arise from the current drafting of the bill, reflecting concerns about feasibility, clarity, and accessibility:
Budget and Resource Allocation: The bill does not specify how the report will be funded or resourced. This lack of clarity could lead to challenges in meeting the strict 30-day deadline, affecting both the thoroughness and accuracy of the report.
Criteria Understanding: The bill's reliance on section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to define criteria for cartel designation might be perplexing to those unacquainted with legal jargon. Clearer articulation or summaries of these criteria would benefit public understanding.
Timeline for Further Action: While the initial report deadline is explicit, there is no stipulated timeline for subsequent actions regarding the designation of additional cartels identified. This could lead to pauses or fragmented follow-up.
Accessibility Concerns: The requirement that the report be submitted electronically with printed copies available only on request might pose issues for individuals or organizations that prefer or require physical documents for accessibility reasons.
Complex Language: The bill's language is heavily legalistic and may pose comprehension challenges for the general populace and non-specialists, potentially hindering transparent public discourse.
Public Impact
Broadly, the bill's implementation could signify an advanced step in addressing drug cartel-related violence and trafficking by enhancing tools available to law enforcement and policymakers. Nonetheless, without proper funding and resources to support these measures, there is a risk of ineffective execution.
The classification of drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations could also lead to increased interdiction efforts and expanded legal tools to prosecute affiliated individuals and entities. However, this could have international diplomatic consequences, affecting U.S.-Mexico relations.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
The bill might positively impact law enforcement agencies by providing them additional powers and resources to combat drug cartels more effectively. On the other hand, it could place a significant administrative burden on the Secretary of State and affiliated departments, necessitating rapid action and potentially overextending current operational capabilities.
For policymakers, the increased classification could offer a stronger framework to legislate anti-cartel measures. However, without clear understandings and effective communication strategies, public support may wane if the bill's intentions are misunderstood or if its rollout seems disorganized.
In summary, while the "Drug Cartel Terrorist Designation Act" aims for an assertive stance against the illegal activities of Mexican drug cartels, its success will heavily depend on addressing identified issues of clarity, resource allocation, and timeline management.
Issues
The report required in Section 2(c)(1) does not specify any budget or resource allocation, which may lead to insufficient funding or resource allocation for its preparation and submission. This could impact the effectiveness and timeliness of the report, potentially affecting legislative action based on its findings.
The language regarding the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization in Section 2(b) and 2(c)(1)(A) relies on reference to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which may not be clear to readers unfamiliar with that section. This could lead to confusion about the standards for designation and make it difficult for the public and policymakers to evaluate the appropriateness of the designations.
There is no specific timeline established for the designation of additional cartels beyond the initial 30-day report submission deadline in Section 2(c)(1) and 2(c)(2), which could lead to delays or inconsistencies in responding to evolving threats posed by drug cartels.
The form requirement in Section 2(c)(3) specifies electronic only submission with potential physical copies by request, but does not address accessibility for those who may need physical copies for accessibility reasons. This could restrict access to important information for individuals or organizations that rely on physical documents.
The language in Section 2 is complex and involves multiple steps and references to other legal texts, which might be difficult for non-experts to understand. This complexity could hinder public understanding and effective oversight of the process for designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The opening section of this act establishes its short title, which is “Drug Cartel Terrorist Designation Act.”
2. Report on designation of certain drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Congress proposes that certain Mexican drug cartels should be officially classified as foreign terrorist organizations by the Secretary of State, who must report the reasons for their designation and identify any additional cartels within 30 days. This report will be submitted electronically to specific congressional committees, and the classification won't affect asylum eligibility.