Stop the Cartels Act

This bill cracks down on drug cartels and human trafficking. It tells U.S. agencies to focus more intelligence work on these threats in certain foreign countries and at the U.S.–Mexico border, with fast reports and regular updates . It also pushes Mexico to fully restore law‑enforcement cooperation before receiving certain U.S. funds. The bill labels several major cartels for special sanctions, making it illegal to knowingly support them and allowing the government to freeze their U.S. assets . In addition, the Department of Homeland Security must send monthly border activity reports to Congress.

It cuts off federal dollars to any state or city that limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, after an annual review by the Department of Homeland Security; funding would be halted the next fiscal year for places found in violation .

The bill changes border and asylum rules. It allows the government to detain minors together with their families while cases are decided, sets detention standards, and overrides the long‑standing Flores settlement and any state licensing rules for family detention centers. It raises the bar for “credible fear” in initial asylum screenings and limits some paths to relief. It also creates refugee application centers outside the United States that charge fees and give priority to certain referrals; these changes expire three years and 240 days after the law takes effect .

Finally, it shifts addiction funding: the main state block grant for prevention and treatment is increased for 2025–2029, while several federal programs are ended, including Drug‑Free Communities, the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant, Project AWARE, and others, with some ending by the end of fiscal year 2025 .

Key points

• Who is affected: major drug cartels and anyone who gives them support; states and cities with policies that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement; migrant families and asylum seekers at the border; people applying for refugee status from abroad; communities that rely on federal prevention, treatment, and mental health grants .
• What changes: more intelligence focus on cartels and trafficking with regular reporting; named cartels face sanctions and asset freezes; funds to Mexico are restricted until cooperation improves; family detention rules are expanded and Flores is overridden; asylum screening is tougher; new refugee processing centers open abroad with fees; addiction funding is refocused into state block grants while several programs end .
• When: initial intelligence reports come within 60–120 days, then quarterly; border reports are monthly; DHS reviews state and local policies each year and cuts funding the next fiscal year if they fail; refugee‑center changes end three years and 240 days after enactment; the block grant runs 2025–2029 .