WASHINGTON D.C. -Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ) issued the following statement after introducing H.R. 7380, the Cartel Haven Sanction Act, legislation to impose economic sanctions on Mexico for its failure to stop illicit and deadly drugs, including fentanyl, from crossing the border and killing over 105,000 U.S. citizens last year.

“The drug cartels have complete control of the southern border. They decide who and what crosses the border.

Americans are being massacred and communities are being destroyed because of the drug crisis. Twice as many Americans died in 2021 due to fentanyl overdoses than died in 11 years of the Vietnam War.  Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45. We must protect our people from Mexican negligence and misfeasance.

My bill punishes the cartels and puts Americans first,” concluded Congressman Gosar.

Background:

The Cartel Haven Sanction Act will liquidate cartel assets and prohibit remittances from the U.S. to Mexico until the date on which a physical wall on the international border between the U.S. and Mexico has been constructed and is fully operational.

The bill also reallocates any funds derived from liquidation of cartel assets to benefit U.S. citizens for student loan forgiveness, job training, and addiction recovery treatment.