February 03, 2025

Scott, Moreno Lead Bill to Provide President Tools to Sanction Foreign Entities Facilitating Illegal Immigration

Washington, D.C. – Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.), along with fellow Senate Banking Committee member Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), is leading an effort to provide President Trump the power 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 – or the STOP MADNESS Act – would also ensure the president can sanction foreign governments that resist efforts to repatriate their citizens who unlawfully enter the United States.

  

“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,” said Chairman Scott.

“Socialist dictators like Gustavo Petro are going to learn they have two options with President Trump when it comes to migrant reparations: the easy way and the hard way,” said Senator Moreno. “Our bill will give President Trump all the authority he needs to apply maximum pressure against corrupt individuals within foreign governments who refuse to allow the US to secure our borders.”

BACKGROUND:

The Stifling Transnational Operations and Proliferators by Mitigating Activities that Drive Narcotics, Exploitation, and Smuggling Sanctions Act – or the STOP MADNESS Act – will impose economic sanctions on foreign governments that obstruct U.S. repatriation efforts and on individuals and entities that knowingly facilitate unlawful immigration. By leveraging the power of financial restrictions, the Act will cut off access to the U.S. financial system for bad actors fueling illegal migration and exploitation.

Specifically, the STOP MADNESS Act would:

  • Impose sanctions on foreign governments that refuse to accept the return of their citizens who have unlawfully entered the United States, denying them access to the U.S. financial system.
  • Sanction individuals and entities that knowingly facilitate unlawful immigration, including human smuggling networks and financial institutions that enable their operations.
  • 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.
  • Mandate a report from the President on actions taken pursuant to the bill, providing transparency to Congress for further legislative action.

For bill text, click HERE. For a one-pager, click HERE.

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