# 119-s-1138: Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act

119-s-1138, Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH] (D-NH); status introduced (as of 2026-09-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1138
- As of: 2026-09-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1138
- Congress: 119
- Title: Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-03-26
- Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH] (D-NH)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-16

## Summary

**Expand southbound inspections at the U.S.-Mexico land border.** This bill would require minimum inspection rates for conveyances leaving the United States and authorize new equipment and personnel to detect currency, firearms, drugs, and human trafficking. - Travelers and commercial carriers: The bill would set a mandatory baseline of inspections at not fewer than 10% of all conveyances traveling to Mexico by March 30, 2027, and it directs DHS to study timelines and resources to raise that rate to 15% and 20%. - Border agencies and law enforcement: U.S. Customs and Border Protection could buy up to 50 additional non-intrusive imaging systems and related infrastructure, with that procurement authority expiring five years after enactment. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would hire at least 100 HSI special agents focused on currency and firearms investigations and at least 100 more for contraband, human trafficking, drug smuggling, and unauthorized entry, plus needed support staff. - Oversight and reporting: DHS must deliver a comprehensive report within one year on resources, inspection cadence, and capacity estimates, and CBP must submit quarterly currency and firearms seizure reports every 90 days for four years.

## Cosponsors (3)

- Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK] (R-OK), 2025-03-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2026-09-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH] (R-OH), 2026-09-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Minimum southbound inspections for vehicles: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Secretary of Homeland Security would be required, as practicable, to inspect at least 10 percent of all conveyances and other transportation traveling from the United States to Mexico by March 30, 2027. Inspections may use non-intrusive imaging, physical officer checks, canine units…
- More ICE agents to fight smuggling: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Director of ICE would hire and train at least 200 new Homeland Security Investigations special agents. One group of 100 agents would focus mainly on currency and firearms smuggling to Mexico. Another group of 100 agents would focus on contraband, human trafficking (including childre…
- New imaging systems for southbound checks: benefit, medium. If enacted, U.S. Customs and Border Protection could buy up to 50 non-intrusive imaging systems. The systems would be used mainly to inspect people and vehicles leaving the United States for Mexico. CBP could also buy other inspection infrastructure the Commissioner deems necessary. The procurement…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-1639: American Innovation and Jobs Act
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-s-3024: Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.

## Sources
- [119-s-1138 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1138)

## Related
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-1639: American Innovation and Jobs Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1639)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1816)
- [119-s-3024: Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3024)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1138 (as of 2026-09-16).