U.S. Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH) introduced legislation that would allow the president to place economic sanctions on foreign entities facilitating illegal immigration into the United States.
The Stifling Transnational Operations and Proliferators by Mitigating Activities that Drive Narcotics, Exploitation, and Smuggling Sanctions Act (S. 363) would impose sanctions on foreign governments that refuse to accept the return of their citizens who have unlawfully entered the United States.
It would also allow for sanctions on individuals and entities that knowingly facilitate unlawful immigration, including human smuggling networks and financial institutions that enable their operations.
Further, the bill would authorize the president to invoke authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to block assets and restrict transactions related to sanctioned individuals and entities. It would also mandate a report from the president on actions taken pursuant to the bill.
“If a foreign entity shows resistance to repatriation or enables illegal immigration to the United States, they should be met with the full force of our economic and national security tools. The American people gave President Trump – and Congress – a mandate to crack down on illegal immigration, and this bill will ensure the president has important tools to hold accountable countries and criminal organizations who refuse to comply with our immigration laws. I’m proud to lead this important effort to help protect the safety of Americans,” Scott, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, said.