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H.R.597 / 118th Congress

Stop the Cartels Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on the National Intelligence Enterprise.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 27, 2023

Stop the Cartels Act

This bill addresses various issues including matters relating to immigration, law enforcement cooperation with Mexico, and drug cartels.

The bill bars federal financial assistance for state or local jurisdictions that (1) restrict compliance with immigration detainers issued by the Department of Homeland Security, or (2) have any law or policy that violates immigration laws.

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Furthermore, under this bill, the detention of alien minors must be governed by specified sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act and not any judicial decree or settlement. (A 1997 settlement agreement imposes requirements related to the treatment of such minors, including limits on how long they may be detained under certain conditions.)

The bill also makes various changes to asylum applications, including by (1) increasing the burden that an asylum applicant must meet to establish a credible fear of persecution, and (2) establishing refugee application and processing centers in Central America.

In addition, certain Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development assistance may not be made available to Mexico's government until the State Department certifies that Mexico has removed certain barriers to law enforcement cooperation and intelligence sharing between the United States and Mexico.

The bill also establishes the foreign Special Transnational Criminal Organization designation and establishes penalties related to designated organizations, such as making it a crime to knowingly provide material support to such an organization. The State Department must designate specified organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel, with the designation, and may designate other organizations that fit criteria established in this bill.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8] · R–OH

Committees

  • Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee
  • Homeland Security Committee
  • Financial Services Committee
  • Energy and Commerce Committee
  • Oversight and Government Reform Committee
  • Foreign Affairs Committee
  • Judiciary Committee
38 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on the National Intelligence Enterprise.

  2. Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence.

  3. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Oversight and Accountability, Energy and Commerce, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  4. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Oversight and Accountability, Energy and Commerce, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  5. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Oversight and Accountability, Energy and Commerce, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  6. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Oversight and Accountability, Energy and Commerce, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  7. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Oversight and Accountability, Energy and Commerce, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  8. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Oversight and Accountability, Energy and Commerce, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  9. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Oversight and Accountability, Energy and Commerce, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  10. Introduced in House

  11. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jul 9, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.597 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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