(NewsNation) — Federal lawmakers and government agencies are taking their next steps in their fight to crack down on cartels.
Two bills were recently introduced — the “No More Narcos Act” and “Stop Coyotes Act” — by Democratic Congressman Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico. They are designed to stop the cartels from exploiting young Americans.
The “No More Narcos Act” calls for the U.S. Attorney General to establish a national strategy to combat cartel recruitment of students and proposes a national education campaign.
Meanwhile, the “Stop Coyotes Act” would add 10 years in prison for individuals convicted of felony offenses involving a minor within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds, swimming pools, or public housing.
In Houston, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations announced the establishment of a regional Homeland Security Task Force to combat emerging threats from transnational criminal organizations.
The new task force comes as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has highlighted recent arrests of undocumented migrants accused of murder, abusing children and other offenses.
“As transnational criminal organizations, foreign terrorist organizations, drug cartels, foreign gangs, and other bad actors continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, it’s vital that we work together as a law enforcement community to find transformative ways to confront emerging threats,” said Chad Plantz, HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge.
“This is especially true in Southeast Texas, where we face a myriad of border-related challenges and threats.”
Officials added the task force will conduct intelligence-driven investigations. Their main targets? Drug trafficking, money laundering, weapons trafficking, human trafficking, alien smuggling, homicide, extortion, kidnapping, child exploitation, and other transnational crimes.
The Homeland Security Task Force will be headquartered in Houston and have a satellite office in Corpus Christi.
President Trump designated several cartels as foreign terror organizations on his first day back in office.