Sw Louisiana News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) has announced the reintroduction of the Homeland Security Fentanyl Enforcement Act of 2023. This bill aims to provide Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative unit of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with full Title 21 authority for a period of five years, subject to reauthorization.

HSI, with its force of 6,000 special agents, plays a crucial role in combating transnational crime, including human smuggling, money laundering, gun trafficking, and transnational gang activity. However, under current statutes, HSI agents are limited in their ability to investigate Title 21 crimes, relying on the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for assistance.

Congressman Higgins, in consultation with frontline DHS law enforcement officers, has developed this legislation to address the bureaucratic constraints faced by HSI. The bill would grant independent authority to HSI, enabling them to utilize their extensive knowledge of criminal networks, particularly cartels, in drug interdiction efforts.

'Criminal cartels have control of our southern border and we need every resource available to restore law and order,' stated Congressman Higgins. 'Due to bureaucratic constraints, HSI lacks the independent statutory authority to enforce drug crimes and target these transnational criminal organizations. It’s absurd. This common-sense bill adds thousands of highly skilled federal law enforcement officers to lead the fight against drug trafficking at no cost to the American taxpayers. We must work to keep deadly drugs out of our communities and keep America’s borders safe.'

To learn more about the Homeland Security Fentanyl Enforcement Act of 2023, you can read the legislation here.