This bill would designate four major Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. This would allow the U.S. government to take actions like freezing their financial assets. The bill also requires the State Department to study and potentially designate other drug cartels as terrorist groups.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill would designate four major Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. This would allow the U.S. government to take actions like freezing their financial assets. The bill also requires the State Department to study and potentially designate other drug cartels as terrorist groups.
Last updated: 12/29/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><b>Drug Cartel Terrorist Designation Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of State to designate four specified drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. (Among other things, such a designation allows the Department of the Treasury to require financial institutions to block transactions involving the organization.) </p> <p>The four specified cartels in the bill are the Gulf Cartel, the Cartel Del Noreste, the Cartel de Sinaloa, and the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion.</p> <p> The bill also requires the State Department to submit a detailed report on those four cartels and any other cartels it may identify. Based on this report, the State Department must designate as a foreign terrorist organization any such identified cartel (or faction thereof) that meets certain criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization.</p> <p>The bill specifies that it may not be construed to expand eligibility for asylum. </p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Designates four major Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations
Allows the U.S. government to take actions like freezing the cartels' financial assets
Requires the State Department to study and potentially designate other drug cartels as terrorist groups
Specifies that the bill cannot be used to expand asylum eligibility
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
If this bill becomes law, it could significantly disrupt the operations and finances of the targeted Mexican drug cartels. This could reduce the cartels' ability to commit violence and traffic drugs, but may also lead them to adapt their tactics. The designation could also impact individuals and businesses with ties to the cartels. Overall, the bill aims to weaken the power and reach of major criminal organizations that have contributed to violence and instability in the region.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
International Affairs
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
1564, 119th Congress (2025). "Ethan's Law". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-1564
